Dear Friend,

Last night the U.S. crossed the tragic threshold of 100,000 people who have died from COVID-19. The death toll makes this disease the fifth most deadly event in U.S. history – these numbers are the equivalent of the population of whole towns and cities. As people of faith, we cannot let this moment pass unnoticed. Both the nation, and each one of us individually, must be given the chance to mourn, lament, and remember the dead. We invite you to join with us by sharing images that symbolize what this means to you on social media and using the hashtags #DayofMourning and #Lament100k.

We are using images of empty chairs, signifying those who will not return to our homes and dinner tables, and lit candles, as prayers for those lost and those grieving. You can choose any image that represents this moment for you. Here is sample language to give you some ideas for your posts to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and we encourage you to make it your own.

100,000 lives lost to COVID-19 is an incalculable loss. I'm putting out a chair to remember and lament all those who are lost, who will not be around our dinner tables anymore. #DayofMourning #Lament100k
I'm remembering the names and lives of those lost as I light these candles. I grieve, together with our whole nation, each of the 100,000 people who have died from COVID-19. #DayofMourning #Lament100k
Feeling deeply grieved as I lament the loss of 100,000 lives from COVID-19. Praying that God will bend near to all our grieving hearts. #DayofMourning #Lament100k

Example posts:

If you wish to share Sojourners’ #Lament100k posts you can find them here on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

This weekend many churches, synagogues, and mosques will be incorporating mourning and lament into their services and you can tune in on Monday on Facebook Live on Sojourners’ Facebook page at noon, EDT, for an interfaith service of lament.

Together we join to ask God to help heal our land as we mourn and honor those who have died. We mourn family members and friends whom we loved; worked and worshipped with; ate, played, and prayed with; important members of our communities, some who were on the front lines of caring for and serving others; and those we passed on the street with a smile and nod.

Grieving with you,

Jim and Adam