GREENFIELD — On the eve of Election Day, the Interfaith Council of Franklin County welcomed people of all faiths and political backgrounds to the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew for an evening of prayers, songs and conversations about the nation’s future.

More than 25 people gathered in the church’s Whiteman Room. Leaders from multiple faiths, including the Rev. Heather Blais of the Episcopal Church, David Arfa of Temple Israel and Sister Clare Carter from the New England Peace Pagoda, provided guided prayers for attendees to participate in.

In one ritual, participants lit candles. Each person, gathered in a circle, said, “I light this flame for ...” before finishing the sentence with a single word or phrase. Hope, compassion, peace, decency, tolerance and neighborliness were just a few of the words people chose. Additionally, musician Annie Hassett performed a Pete Seeger song and Interfaith Council of Franklin County Vice President Leslie Fraser, a multi-faith chaplain, used a singing bowl.

Before the prayer circle began, Fraser said the goal of the gathering was to offer a space for residents to gather, regardless of religious or political background, to ground themselves before the Nov. 5 presidential election.

“We wanted to do something to bring people together, to just prepare for the election, but in a way that brings peace, light, togetherness and that values kindness, not with any agenda,” Fraser said. “It’s not about that.”

On a national scale, 77% of Americans cited the future of the country as “a significant source of stress,” according to the American Psychological Association’s 2024 “Stress in America” survey. This stressor proved to be the most reported by the 3,305 U.S. adults ages 18 and up who were polled, with the economy and the presidential election following closely behind.

Fraser said she finds reassurance in the continued kindness that people show each other in difficult times.

“What we want to do is provide not only calm and acceptance and a peaceful, accepting space, but we also really want to bring our different traditions in to say, ‘Ah, you know, there’s a lot of precedent for love,’” Fraser said.

Following the prayer circle, Blais said she is grateful for the Interfaith Council of Franklin County for creating a space for people and faith leaders of all backgrounds to come together. She described the experience as “grounding,” saying she feels a community event like this can be a reminder that no one is alone during times of stress.

“I think remembering we’re not alone in this, and that we’re always better together, I think, is an important message for any community gathering,” Blais said.

Greenfield resident Sandra Boston, of the Interfaith Council of Franklin County, feels similarly to Fraser and Blais. After the ceremony, Boston said she feels more grounded and centered. She said Monday’s gathering was an opportunity to get people away from their phones and televisions to be together — a type of community connection that she said people need most, during the election and beyond.

“It’s in our hands to create the life and the world we want to live in. It’s not up to Kamala Harris or [Donald] Trump. It’s up to us,” Boston said. “This just reassures me that we’re all marching together.”

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.