Oak Lawn United Methodist Church will join faith communities across the country on Thursday, Aug. 13, in prayerful witness as three executions are scheduled to take place in the United States. According to current execution schedules, Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez is scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma at 10 a.m., Darrell Hines in Tennessee at 10 a.m. and and Jeremy Williams in Alabama at 6 p.m.
As a visible act of prayer, lament and hope, the church’s bells will ring for one hour beginning at 10 a.m. and again for one hour beginning at 6 p.m., inviting the surrounding community to pause, reflect and pray for all whose lives are touched by violence and the death penalty.
The church will also host a community prayer service at 7 p.m. in the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church sanctuary. At 7:30 p.m., prayers will be offered both in person and via Zoom, allowing members of the wider community to participate regardless of location.
The service will include prayers for:
- Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, Darrell Hines, and Jeremy Williams.
- The victims of these crimes — Olimpia Fisher, Katherine Jenkins and Kamarie Holland — and their families and loved ones.
- The families and friends of those scheduled for execution.
- Prison staff, chaplains, attorneys, correctional officers, wardens and all who participate in the execution process.
- Healing, justice, mercy and an end to the cycle of violence.
“Every human life bears the image of God,” said Rev. Ryan Wager, executive pastor of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church. “As Christians, we gather not to minimize the profound pain experienced by victims’ families, but to pray for everyone affected by violence. We believe prayer can hold grief, accountability, mercy, and hope together as we seek God’s vision of justice and reconciliation.”
The prayer service is open to all, regardless of faith tradition. Those unable to attend in person are invited to join the livestream at olumc.org and participate in the Prayers of the People via Zoom beginning at 7:30 p.m.
— David Taffet