On Today's School Shooting in Minneapolis

We woke up this morning to another school shooting in our nation. The words that rise up in my heart come from the Psalmist in Psalm 13:

How long, O LORD?

…How long must I bear pain in my soul,

And have sorrow in my heart all day long?

As we absorb the news of this day, I encourage us to turn to God with our grief, our anger, our despair or whatever we are feeling.

Let us pray.

Gracious God, the news of this day

tears open our hearts and souls.

It feels like we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

In the depths of our pain and anger and frustration, we lift our eyes to you,

O God, our rock and our refuge.

You are our only comfort.

You are our only hope.

Merciful God, you know the depth of suffering.

Uphold all those who mourn and are traumatized in Minneapolis,

especially those families whose children have died.

Surround them with your presence, comfort them with your love.

Hear our cries of despair,

heed our calls for justice,

and do not let us lose hope,

but move to us to action.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

Take care of each other today, my friends.

+ Pastor Sean