I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. For paid subscribers (and last-minute worship planners), I also offer some liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary. Each offering is written on Wednesday and published on Thursday, allowing me to focus on current events or issues.
Among so much more, this past week's headlines have been overwhelmed by the Supreme Court tariff ruling, the State of the Union Address, and ongoing negotiations with Iran. In the past week there were also six mass shootings as tracked by the Gun Violence Archive. In that time, six people were killed and 26 others were injured. 32 lives. 32 lives of people connected families, friends, and communities. The total number of people whose lives have been changed forever by gun violence is too great to measure — and that was just last week.
And yet, politicians and public services are doing nothing. No, legislation alone will not solve the epidemic of gun violence and our addiction to guns in the United States, but it must be part of the solution. The conversations must be had. And yet **crickets** with not even "thoughts and prayers" offered. It is enraging, and yet, I refuse to give up hope that change can happen — even in the halls of government.
Today I offer another prayer from a contribution that I made to the upcoming resource, How Long Oh God: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence. It will be free to folks from the Office of Public Witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The next time a shooting headline whizzes by, please take a moment to pray for all involved, remembering
For Those Who Live in Terror #LetUsPray
Let us pray— or politicians, policy makers, and legislative bodies who have the power to address gun violence in the United States.
They offer “thoughts & prayers” without concrete action so even the most heartfelt condolences are received as disingenuous & hollow
God, I plead that Your spirit intercede into the world in miraculous ways In halls of power In committees In localities In courthouses
Give them the courage to risk positions of power Give them wisdom to find solutions that make sense Give them the fortitude to stand up to powers that will fight them And give them reassurance that they are doing what is beneficial to the Body Politic and the Common Good.
God, public servants are not saviors, but partners in the realization of what can be a future when children can learn without active shooter drills a future when people can gather without the ever-present spectre of gun violence lurking about a future when guns are not so desired or accessible a future when the response to death by gun is not more guns. a future when, after the next tragedy strikes, “thoughts & prayers” are offered with truth and integrity and they are received as intended because action has proven those words to be true.
