Instead of watching the inauguration, more than 300 people gathered to pray at Shiloh Baptist Church Friday
TRENTON -- As Donald Trump was being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, more than 300 people concerned over the country's future gathered in a Trenton church to pray.
U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.), who was among more than 60 Democratic lawmakers who skipped the inauguration in protest, hosted the interfaith service at her church, Shiloh Baptist Church.
"We will pray and we will reflect and we will leave here uplifted, hopeful and assured that everything will be alright," Watson Coleman said. "But faith without works is dead, so in addition to believing and praying, we have work to do. So we shall stay awake, stay alert and be ready to mobilize."
The two-hour service included more than a dozen religious leaders representing several faiths and denominations.
Rev. Darrell Armstrong, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, welcomed the opportunity, saying places of worship and governments should be about building bridges, not walls.
One by one, prayers were said for the nation and its leaders, peace, women, families, religious tolerance and freedom, immigration, education, justice, worker rights, health care, equality, the environment and strength.
The Rev. Simeon Spencer, pastor of Union Baptist Church, recited Scripture, saying, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."
"And to be frank, so much of what we have heard come out of the mouth of the one who is being sworn in today leaves us unsettled," he continued. "So much of what we have seen of his appointments leaves us unsettled.
"If we are honest with you ... since Nov. 8, a lot of us have felt as if something died and the funeral is today. ... Even now, we pray that you would protect them, cover them, grant them wisdom, knowledge and understanding and even if you have to, God, we ask you to control them."
The Rev. Maureen Gerald urged the group to stand together in solidarity to protect the rights of women and their families.
"We say that our bodies and our babies and our country's borders will not be left to the heads, the hearts and hands of those who are uninformed and unfamiliar with our issues," she said. "And I am well aware that millions of women don't live in towers, but work to have a safe place for their family, safe and secure medical care and safe and secure opportunities for their careers so while others are celebrating, I stand here soberly."
Most of the 300 attendees wore purple ribbons as a symbol of unity.
Sally Maruca, a Lawrence resident who worries that the progress that has been made in women's and civil rights issues will be reversed by the Trump administration, said it was important for people to join together Friday.
"I just fear that he's going to silence anything that he doesn't personally approve of," Maruca, 85, said. "I think it's important for us all to be together and work hard but politely on protecting our rights."
On Saturday, Watson Coleman and hundreds of others will participate in the Women's March on New Jersey in Trenton, a sister march to the Women's March on Washington.
"This government is for, of and by the people and it is the voice of the people that will have the last say here," the congresswoman said.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.