Boston Clergy Share A Prayer For Snow-Weary City
BOSTON (CBS) -- The winter from hell is bringing people of all faiths together in Boston.
Reverends, rabbis and imams appear in a YouTube video posted Friday by the Temple Israel of Boston called "A message from the clergy of Boston. . .," directed at those sick of the snow.
"In this winter of record-breaking snow Boston clergy share a prayer. . . and a shovel," the introduction states, before 13 religious leaders take turns offering words of support from different corners of the city.
Boston has received 99.9 inches of snow this winter, its second-highest total in recorded history. The unprecedented snowfall has devastated public transportation, collapsed dozens of roofs and made life generally miserable for residents stricken with snow fatigue.
"Boston, are you weary?" asks Rev. Jay Williams of Union United Methodist Church.
"Weary of digging out?" says Rev. Burns Stanfield of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in South Boston.
The video asks Boston residents to turn to each other for support and think of those who "don't have the luxury of snow days" who are having a tough winter.
"We have each other to lend a hand, to share a smile," the clergy say. "We have each other to tend and befriend."
"Can I get an Amen?" asks Rev. June Cooper of the City Mission Society of Boston.
The video has more than 7,000 views so far.
List of video participants, in order of appearance:
Reverend Jay Williams, Union United Methodist Church
Rabbi Matt Soffer, Temple Israel of Boston
Reverend Burns Stanfield, Fourth Presbyterian Church South Boston and President of GBIO
Reverend Nancy Taylor, Old South Church
Reverend Dan Smith, First Church Cambridge
Reverend Rosemary Lloyd, First Church Boston
Reverend Sam Lloyd, Trinity Church
Cantor Jodi Sufrin, Temple Beth Elohim
Rabbi Ronne Friedman, Temple Israel of Boston
Suzan M. El-Rayess, Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center
Imam Ismail Fenni, Islamic Society of Boston
Reverend Dr. Ray Hammond, Bethel AME Church
Reverend June Cooper, City Mission Society of Boston
