Politics

At church, confronting an ugly election

Congregants listened to a sermon discussing how to find light amid a dark election season at Bethel A.M.E. in Boston. Keith Bedford / Globe Staff

The Sunday service at Bethel A.M.E. Church, in Jamaica Plain, began with a bright surge of gospel music that seemed to push away the anxiety of this election season for a time. But just for a time.

“I can’t remember the last time I was so anxious for an event — in this case the election — to be over,” said the Rev. Ray Hammond, shortly after taking the pulpit, to a sprinkling of “mm-hmms.”

All the scandal, deception, and sexual impropriety had left him with a feeling of nausea, he said. All the racial stereotypes, high-priced speeches, and innuendo had left the country with a nasty stench.

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“The country of which I am a part,” he said, “smells awful.”

Preachers and congregants across the region Sunday took stock of one of the ugliest, most unsettling elections in modern American history and, with just two days to go until Election Day, tried to find a little redemption.

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