Oak Lawn United Methodist Church will join faith communities across the country on Thursday, Aug. 13, in prayerful witness as three executions are scheduled to take place in the United States. According to current execution schedules, Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez is scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma at 10 a.m., Darrell Hines in Tennessee at 10 a.m. and and Jeremy Williams in Alabama at 6 p.m.
As a visible act of prayer, lament and hope, the church’s bells will ring for one hour beginning at 10 a.m. and again for one hour beginning at 6 p.m., inviting the surrounding community to pause, reflect and pray for all whose lives are touched by violence and the death penalty.
The church will also host a community prayer service at 7 p.m. in the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church sanctuary. At 7:30 p.m., prayers will be offered both in person and via Zoom, allowing members of the wider community to participate regardless of location…