‘Peace, be still’: A call for prayer, witness and Election Day peace [column]

On this eve of election eve, the air feels thick with anticipation, as well as with fear and uncertainty.

I know many of you feel deeply anxious about the outcome of Tuesday's elections. Some worry for the future of our nation, while others have concerns about the integrity of the election itself. These are valid feelings in a time when our country seems more divided than ever. Yet, amid this division, I hear the words of Jesus as he calmed the storm: "Peace, be still."

For me, this call to peace and prayer is deeply personal. As a pastor, I have witnessed the toll that fear and division take on our communities. Yet, I have also seen how peace — true peace, grounded in faith — can transform those same communities. I believe we are called to approach this moment with an intentional commitment to peace, each of us doing our part to ensure the process unfolds smoothly, ethically and in a way that truly amplifies the voice of the people.

Our elections are not without challenges, and I have previously written in this newspaper about the safeguards in place to protect the integrity of our system. The Pillars of the Community initiative — a bipartisan program that seeks to restore public trust in elections — has proven this to me beyond any doubt.

Since I was able to vote, I have served in partisan political organizations, as a municipal chair, a poll worker and a polling precinct judge in my hometown. From experience, I can affirm that our elections are safeguarded — through checks and balances, rigorous testing, audits and the tireless efforts of election workers who uphold the process. But beyond the process itself, there is a greater need for public witness — for us to embody peace and kindness as we carry out our civic duty.

Good public trust is built by good public witness. This applies to everyone, from discerning candidates to how we, as citizens, approach the polls. Election officials and poll workers deserve not only our trust but also our gratitude. Many of them face threats and hostility, and we must stand as a counter-witness to that aggression. I encourage us all to be intentional in our actions: Diffuse tension, offer affirmation and extend kindness to those around us. Be a calming presence at the polls. Look out for those who may not be treated fairly and offer support where you can. In Lancaster County, you may see clergy members intentionally supporting this mission in similar ways. These simple gestures do more than foster a peaceful atmosphere — they remind us that we are bound by our shared humanity.

As Paul wrote in Romans, "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." In this election, we have the opportunity to live out that peace. Our votes matter, but so does how we treat one another. The dignity and respect we show — both at the polls and in our communities — are as important as the vote we cast. We must resist the temptation to let fear, suspicion or anger further divide us. Instead, let us stand for justice, for fairness and for the well-being of all.

But even as we work toward peace, we cannot ignore the very real fear that exists, nor can we ignore the call of justice. There are many who are terrified — not just of the election's outcome but of what may happen during the election itself and the days that follow it. Remember, your vote will have consequences for other people, too: It will help to determine who will be in power, who will formulate the policies that could shape their lives. As a pastor, I feel that weight deeply. That is why I invite you to prayerfully consider your neighbor in your vote, to participate peacefully in this election, and to join me and people of faith across the country in prayer.

From 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, election night, the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations will host virtual prayers, and I encourage you to be part of this collective moment of peace and reflection. Our new presiding bishop, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, a Pennsylvania native, will offer an opening reflection and prayer . Throughout the evening, many will gather in silence and prayer for peace — for our nation and for all people and countries. Many of our churches also serve as polling places, and perhaps you may pause in prayer there.

Our call is to pray for peace, to be peace and to trust that in the midst of uncertainty, God is at work. Let us hear those words — "Peace, be still." Let us carry them with us to the polls, to our conversations and to our communities. And may we find, in the calm of that peace, the strength to stand together, united in our commitment to justice, freedom and the dignity of all.

The Rev. Bradley Mattson serves as rector of Hope Episcopal Church in Manheim; convener of the Lancaster Convocation of Episcopal Churches; and a member of the Council of Trustees of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve.