On Friday, Feb. 27, at 5:30 pm, Middlebury Indivisible will host a half-hour interfaith vigil at the Town Hall Theater Plaza, with the goal of fostering unity amid the diversity of religious beliefs.
Middlebury Indivisible is a volunteer-led grassroots organization affiliated with the national Indivisible movement, which focuses on defending democratic institutions and advancing progressive priorities through community organizing and protest. The vigil, held on the third Friday of each month, grew out of discussions within the Indivisible Middlebury Mutual Aid group, a local chapter dedicated to nonviolence and community engagement.
“We were thinking there might be people from all faith and wisdom traditions who would be interested in a quiet vigil to express our hopes for peace, justice and compassion — both nationally and globally,” Theresa Gleason, one of the vigil’s organizers said.
The monthly vigils feature spiritual readings interspersed with extended periods of silence and meditative prayer, concluding with a closing song sung collectively by participants of all traditions.
“At our vigils we welcome people of all wisdom traditions to join us for a peace vigil, which will offer readings interspersed with periods of silence for reflection, prayer, and meditation. We close by joining our voices in song,” Gleason said.
During the fall, two vigils were held in Middlebury’s Marble Works District overlooking Otter Creek. The events were hosted less frequently during the winter due to travel challenges and scheduling conflicts. Looking ahead to the spring, organizers hope to return the vigils to their original location near the Marble Works Amphitheater, according to Gleason.
Susan Vinge, a member of the interfaith vigils planning committee, shared insight into the impetus behind the events.
“One of the things that those of us who are on the planning committee for these vigils feel is that it was important to be able to bring in the fact that the issues that we are facing, injustice, and division, and hate, are bigger than just people [….] That gives people the chance to gather in a different tone. It’s not a protest, protests are super important, but it’s not a demonstration, it’s a lifting up of our hearts and concerns,” she said.
Indivisible Middlebury has played a visible role in civic engagement efforts across Addison County, including organizing the “No Kings” protest in the town last October.
“Indivisible Middlebury is a collective of concerned neighbors who believe when individuals come together, we create real people power,” Indivisible Middlebury’s press and media lead Jennifer Wasuira said.
According to its website, the national organization was founded in 2016 to confront democratic backsliding in America and facilitate nationwide demonstrations. Middlebury’s Indivisible chapter aims to foster dialogue among the various groups present in American society, alongside the goals of the national organization.
“[We are calling] on people of all wisdom and traditions to join us. Short readings on peace, justice, and compassion will be followed with a moment of silence. We’ll close with a song for solidarity and hope,” Wasuira said.
Susan Vinge echoed this sentiment.
“Our goal is to have monthly vigils. The purpose is to draw people together regardless of doctrine, or religion, or no religion, but the practice is to have respectful presence for each person so that people can come together around a shared purpose,” she said.
This month’s vigil coincides with the overlap of Ramadan and Lent, two significant observances in Islam and Christianity, respectively.
Although Vermont is classified by the Pew Research Center as the least religious state in the U.S., with only 13% of residents responding that they are “highly religious,” there is a wide variety of religions present on the college’s campus and within Addison County.
The Charles P. Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life has previously organized interfaith dialogues, such as one hosted within the Rohatyn Global Scholars program this fall, during which four of the college’s chaplains engaged with first-year students and discussed the similarities and differences within their religious practices.
“It was inspiring to see how each religious leader had an answer that the others could all agree with, that there was only difference in how each would frame their response rather than a difference in their sentiments,” Ronen Israel ‘29 said.
Indivisible Middlebury is seeking additional input on how to improve its events and expand outreach. Students practicing any religion are encouraged to attend the event on Friday, as the organizers offer a spiritual and educational experience.
Editor's Note: Senior Local Editor Katrina Schwarz ’26 contributed reporting to this article.
