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NEW YORK (AP) — The messages in Christian homes of worship on the primary weekend because the election had been as divided because the nation’s voters, with spiritual leaders largely calling for peace and unification whilst some bemoaned the end result and others celebrated.
Hours after the information broke Saturday of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory, St. Joseph on the Brandywine Deacon Michael Stankewicz led a prayer throughout afternoon Mass on the president-elect’s residence church in Wilmington, Delaware, by which he requested “that our newly elected officers lead with knowledge and integrity to result in unity, peace and reconciliation in our nation and world wide.”
In Oklahoma, which voted for President Donald Trump by a 2-to-1 margin, civil rights activist and minister Warren G. Blakney Sr. began the Sunday morning service at North Peoria Church of Christ by noting the toll the virus is taking up his hometown of Tulsa and mourning the demise of a church member the day earlier than.
He provided an exultant message of political change to parishioners, saying the election offers the catalyst “to start to have fun a brand new period.”
“Aren’t you glad that 74 million hearts don’t need that stuff no extra? I voted for change. I do know that in January higher days are coming,” Blakney mentioned, shouting to make himself heard over the automobile horns being honked in settlement by worshippers attending the parking zone service.
Different religion leaders sounded a notice of concern.
Pastor Matt Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio lamented a troubled world, and mentioned “the treatment,” which was the principle theme for his Sunday sermon, was Jesus Christ.
With out explicitly naming the president- and vice president-elect, he criticized public officers, abortion and what he referred to as censorship of “the phrase of God.” Final yr, Biden shifted his stance on abortion to again an finish to restrictions on authorities funding for the process.
“One thing’s incorrect when it doesn’t take lots of effort to fill the streets with protesters, however it’s a must to beg and plead to fill a church with prayer warriors. One thing’s incorrect when the phrase of God is censored as hate speech and public officers can blatantly lie and be referred to as servants. One thing’s incorrect once we can homicide unborn youngsters and name it well being care,” Hagee mentioned within the livestreamed service.
His father, outstanding megachurch pastor and conservative activist John Hagee, returned to Cornerstone on Sunday after being identified with COVID-19 final month. The 80-year-old pastor has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump.
Throughout a short look on stage, he informed worshippers to dream massive and “develop the tent,” and cited political causes in extolling the church’s academic work.
“We constructed a world-class faculty for our younger people who find themselves going to turn out to be the leaders of tomorrow, who should not contaminated with the socialist concepts that youngsters are listening to now in public faculties,” he mentioned.
The elder Hagee later lamented the “depressing yr” and challenged congregants to “neglect it” and transfer on.
“Go residence as we speak, take a bathe and shake it out of your hair,” he mentioned. “Flip off the pretend information, and begin anticipating God to do a great factor.”
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Henao reported from Jersey Metropolis, NJ. International faith editor Sally Stapleton contributed from New York.
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Related Press faith protection receives assist from the Lilly Endowment via the Faith Information Basis. The AP is solely chargeable for this content material.
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