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Community Vigil Against Violence – September 29

  • September 27, 2016
  • by faithbellaire
  • · Announcements · Worship

vigil-against-violence

Join us Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 PM as we pray for our community.

Once again Monday morning we were reminded of the sinful brokenness of life. I don’t know all the details beyond the early report that nine people were shot yesterday morning around 6:30 AM near the corner of Bissonnet and Weslayan. The gunman died at the scene. As time goes on, I trust that we will learn more, but for now our role is to pray for the victims, their families, and all whose lives have been so tragically and senselessly disrupted.

In the face of this insanity we were very well served by the courage of the police officers and first responders who showed up at the scene. Twenty minutes of terror will now be followed by weeks and months of recovery. I pray especially for those officers whose duties required them to use their firearms to protect the innocent. May God draw near to them with love, encouragement, and a deep sense of our gratitude for their service.

As a congregation in the neighborhood, as happened this past year with the death of a young man at the end of his shift, or a motorcycle officer chasing a suspect, we strive to be a beacon of God’s hope in the midst of the darkness of life. We can be that in our conversations with family and friends. This is not the time for debate but for prayer.

Several weeks ago I scheduled this week for a personal silent prayer retreat. I got the news this morning while I was writing today’s daily devotion. I prayed about whether to continue my plans or to be at church, no doubt joining others in prayer. Here’s what I have decided to do and what I invite you to do as well. I am setting alarms on my phone with a distinctive tone to ring at 6:30 PM and again at 6:30 AM. With those tones, for the foreseeable future, I will be reminded to pray for God’s healing in my life, our lives, and the lives of those in our community and across the world. Let’s come together in prayer on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM at Faith. Members of the community are being invited to join us.

While further details will continue to come out about this event, we can all trust that the shooter was a deeply troubled person who acted out his illness in a senseless, violent, and tragic way. There are no excuses or reasons to justify such actions. Violence begets violence in a never ending, always descending, spiral. As people of God, we stand against violence with the courage and conviction that this stance requires.

May God bring healing to the victims of yesterday’s shooting and hope for those who stand beside them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Kerry

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