UPDATE, 11:57 a.m.: Vince Gray was sworn in as the District of Columbia's sixth elected mayor just before noon Sunday.

Gray has promised to unite a city whose deep divide became apparent during the Democratic primary when wealthy, white residents strongly supported the re-election of Mayor Adrian Fenty. The city's poorer, black residents voted heavily for Gray.

 Gray believes he can create "One City" by creating jobs for residents of the District's poorest areas, where unemployment has climbed as high as 30 percent.

A few hundred people gathered at the Washington Convention Center on Sunday morning for a pre-inauguration interfaith prayer ceremony.

Religious leaders from across the District delivered prayers for peace and prosperity at a ceremony that started at 8 a.m., two hours before Vince Gray was scheduled to be sworn in as the city's sixth elected mayor.

The prayer service kicked off a day of inaugural events that will end with a black tie gala Sunday evening. More than 7,000 residents are expected to attend.

The new D.C. Council will also be sworn in Sunday morning, led by its new chairman, Kwame Brown, who won the seat vacated by Gray. Gray is the first sitting council chairman to be elected mayor.