Reflection from October 12th Prayer Vigil

Our most recent prayer vigil, led by Pastor Ashley Nicolls, was one of the most powerful yet. It came at a meaningful intersection — the close of Hispanic Heritage Month, Columbus Day, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day — a convergence of histories that reflect both pain and pride, loss and resilience.

Pastor Ashley guided us through the complex history of Columbus Day, shedding light on how Italian Americans came to celebrate it as an expression of pride in their heritage — a response to decades of discrimination and prejudice. She reminded us that history is rarely simple, and that true justice begins when we hold space for multiple truths.

One of the most memorable parts of the evening was her exploration of the American hymn “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” Together, we sang through twelve different versions of the song — each one capturing a different moment in our nation’s evolving story. From our colonial ties to England, to the fight for independence, the struggle for women’s rights, abolition, and civil rights — each verse was a mirror reflecting who we were, who we are, and who we hope to become.

Two versions, in particular, moved me deeply:

“My country, ‘tis of thee, dark land of slavery, for thee I weep.
Land where the slave has sighed, and where he toil’d and died, to serve a tyrant’s pride, for thee I weep.”

and

“My country, ‘tis of thee, once land of liberty; of thee I sing.
Land of the millionaire; farmers with pockets bare; caused by the cursed snare—The money ring.”

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These verses reminded me that the story of America is not one of perfection, but of persistence — the continual struggle to align our ideals with our actions.

As I stood in reflection, I looked around and saw a Latino family playing soccer, an Indian/Asian family walking by with a hula hoop, and onlookers pausing to join our prayers. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of hope. Week after week, new faces appear — people who stumble upon our vigils, feel moved, and choose to stand with us. Reporters and community members are beginning to recognize what we are doing: bearing witness to this poignant time in history and refusing to stay silent in the face of injustice.

Those who continue to show up — you are the changemakers. You are the ones standing on the right side of history. Thank you for praying, for showing up, and for being present in body and spirit. Our collective light is being noticed, and our commitment is inspiring others to act.

National movements are now forming around the same vision. November 1st will be a national day of demonstrations in front of Home Depot locations, where so many immigrants are unjustly targeted by ICE. November 2nd will be a day of National Prayer Vigils — and since that falls on a Sunday, we will be gathering as usual at Payne Park to lift our voices together.

Finally, I invite all our readers to join us on Saturday, November 8, 2025, for a trip to Big Cypress Detention Center. We will depart from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota at 7:00 a.m., with a stop at UU of Venice at 7:30 a.m., returning by 3:00 p.m. The cost is $30 per person.

Let us continue to show up — for truth, for justice, and for love.