Wednesday, Dec. 13

Interfaith Clergy and Out-of-Towner Dinner and Worship Service. Dec. 13, 6-8 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF), 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124, 703-281-4230. All faith leaders attending the Dec. 14 clergy witness event are invited to this dinner. If you have not yet RSVPed, please email Mary Lareau.  Please tell us how many people will be in your party.

 

Thursday, Dec. 14​

9:15 a.m. – First shuttles leaves the UUCF parking lot for those who want to attend the 10 a.m. community vigil described below.

 

9:45 a.m. – Second shuttles leave UUCF parking lot for those attending only the National Clergy Witness at 10:45 a.m.

 

10-10:45 a.m. - 5th Annual Community Vigil at the NRA. In front of National Rifle Association national headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. This event, organized by local gun violence prevention advocates, commemorates all those lost to gun violence and marks the 5th anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre.

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10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. - National Interfaith Clergy Witness at the NRA. Clergy, faith leaders and supporters will gather for a service of music and faithful witness to mourn together and call for moral clarity around the tragedy of pervasive gun violence in our communities. Five speakers from various faith traditions will share personal reflections. Rev. Jason Shelton will lead music for the event.

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12-12:30 p.m. - Shuttles return to the UUCF parking lot.

 

Transportation to the NRA

• Shuttles: Because parking at the event site is extremely limited, organizers recommend going to UUCF (2709) Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA) and taking the shuttle from the UUCF parking lot. There will be plenty of parking at UUCF. 

• Take Über/Lyft or taxis to the NRA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA. 

• Drive directly to the NRA and park at your own risk nearby: There are office parks and shopping centers within walking distance of the NRA (including a Giant shopping center) that may have parking available, but please beware of restricted parking lots that tow unauthorized vehicles. 

• Take the Metro Orange line to the Vienna station and Über/Lyft or taxi to the NRA. Please contact mlareau@uucf.org if you need to be picked up at the Vienna station.  

 

Clothing

Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s. Please dress warmly in multiple layers. Clergy, please wear visible clergy garments.

 

Press at the Event

National and local press are expected at the event, and clergy are encouraged to speak from their personal and faith perspectives about what calls them to take part in this event. The organizers will have placards and signs for attendees to hold that have religious messages as opposed to the more visceral, secular messages normally seen at the monthly NRA vigils. The intent is to be clear that this is a religious event with a call to moral action.

 

Civil Disobedience and Arrest

The Clergy Witness event will be a sacred service of mourning, remembrance and faithful witness. The organizers did not conceive this event to incite civil disobedience or arrest and have made no plans with local law enforcement for such circumstances. 

 

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