‘Rise to the challenge of blessing the moment’
For North Side Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a canvas upon which to practice patience, forgiveness and acceptance.
Keep The Faith
Chicago faith leaders offer prayers and perspective two years into the pandemic
We asked local faith leaders to share some words of wisdom as the COVID-19 pandemic reaches its two-year mark.
In March 2020, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. The two years since have been full of fear and heartbreak — but there are also reasons to be hopeful.
To mark the anniversary of the shutdown, we teamed up with the University of Chicago to ask faith leaders from across the city to share short sermons reflecting on the pandemic. Click “Listen” to hear their remarks, intended for people of all beliefs.
Featured
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‘Without remembrance, we’d be like a ship without a sail’
West Side Rev. Marshall Hatch Jr. looked to the past for guidance as he led his community through COVID-19 and a racial reckoning.
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‘Time has lost meaning in a way we have never known’
To cope with pandemic isolation and despair, Chicago Rev. Emily McGinley took solace in a simple message: “Peace be with you.”
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‘Are we ready to engage in any soul-searching or introspection?’
To find meaning in the pandemic, Ustadh Ubaydullah Evans believes we need to look inward.
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‘We are enveloped in the same skin … ripening together or not at all’
For divinity student Pranati Parikh, the pandemic was a reminder of the interconnectedness of the modern world.
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‘Share [your] feelings, listen and work toward healing’
South Side Rev. Norman Hernan Moran encourages residents to express the emotions brought forth by the pandemic instead of bottling them up.
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