Prayers and Services of Thanksgiving

On Thursday, January 22, 2009, President Obama signed the executive order we have been seeking -- an executive order that stops the CIA’s abuse of detainees, closes U.S. secret prisons, ends rendition for torture, and provides the International Committee of the Red Cross with access to U.S.-held detainees.

Click here to read about NRCAT's "Countdown to End Torture" initiative, including media stories and the text of the Executive Orders signed by the President.

Our work to secure an end to U.S.-sponsored torture is far from over, but it is good to pause, to savor this moment, and to give thanks. 

NRCAT encourages faith communities across the country (and around the globe) to join us in expressing gratitude to President Obama, key members of his Administration who helped draft the executive order, and the diverse groups who joined with us in this campaign – human rights organizations, retired military and intelligence officers, lawyers representing detainees, legal scholars and medical professionals – and especially all the people in local congregations who have made phone calls, written letters, stood in vigil, or met with Members of Congress to demand action.

Resources

On this page, we want to offer several resources and ideas for offering thanks during worship services.  Some congregations have already made plans for bell-ringing, letter-writing and other activities.  However you choose to recognize this significant milestone in our work, we encourage you to do something during the next few weeks because we will soon be urging you take action on new initiatives as we pursue our ambitious goals for 2009.

• Click here to download a bulletin insert that includes an interfaith prayer/litany of thanksgiving and information about critical next steps for ending U.S.-sponsored torture. Click here for pdf.
  

• Click here to send an e-mail to the President thanking him for this important step.
• Click here to download a sign-on letter to use after worship.
• Click here to view the letter to President Obama written by NRCAT's President, Linda Gustitus, and Executive Director. Rev. Richard L. Killmer.
  
• Click here to access a variety of resources provided by the Presbyterian Church USA and No2Torture.
• Click here for interfaith educational resources from NRCAT and our partners.

Local Reports

We know that many congregations have already made plans for special activities or services.  Share your ideas and stories with us, so we can share them with others.

The First Congregational Church of Berkeley, CA, will include a bell-ringing ceremony during the worship service on Sunday, February 1.  With handbells scattered among the parishioners, one person at the front of the sanctuary will begin a rhythmic ringing, and other individuals will join in, one at a time, with different rhythms, until bells are ringing throughout sanctuary in a solemn, yet jubilant, action of thanksgiving.  Following the service, they are inviting members of the congregation to sign letters of gratitude that will be mailed to the White House.

Click here to read more descriptions of local plans/experiences. 

Click here to share what you are planning or what you have done, and we’ll add your description to our list.