vigil for america

Dear Saint John’s Church family,
 
I learned of the Texas church shooting after the healing service on Sunday. It did not sit well then and it’s sitting even worse now. Perhaps it is a combined effect of not getting over the Las Vegas shooting, or the truck/bike terrorism on Halloween, or the other shootings. More to the point, this shooting feels more intimate and personal. The evil attack happened in the sanctuary of small-town, small-church worship life. Speaking of intimate, I can’t even talk about the ages of those who were killed because I am concerned that if I start to cry and I’m not going to be able to stop anytime soon.
 
With the theme of do something, I think we need to do something. This Sunday we are going to remember and thank our veterans. I polled a (small) sample of veterans. The consensus was that instead of having specific prayers for our veterans, they’d like us to pray for America; for the very land and constitution that they vowed to defend and protect. With that in mind, we are having a Vigil for America this Sunday at 8 and 10 am. We did this on July 3rd, 2016. Many felt it was a cleansing for them and gave hope in the face of sadness and despair.
 
Through our prayers, let us keep America, and all the houses of worship in this great land, to be a safe place of worship, of respect for the dignity of every human being, and where we vow to love our neighbors as ourselves. If you have a friend or family member that is lamenting like me, please be sure to invite them on Sunday. Together, our prayers will do something.
 
- Fr. Dave