A Word from Laura: After Uvalde

Western Friends,

Following the apostle’s call to weep with those who weep, this week we have joined with those from Uvalde to Laguna Woods to Buffalo and everywhere in between grieving the senseless loss of lives to gun violence.

Perhaps you have joined with basketball coach Steve Kerr in calling on senators to put the lives of children, senior citizens and churchgoers ahead of their desire for power, demonstrated by their unwillingness to sign legislation strengthen background checks and enacting limits. I hope that you will make space and time to care for yourselves, if you notice the stress of the violence impacting you in what is already a challenging time for many of us.

Irene Bennett has written a wonderful letter about how to talk to children about what has happened; it occurred to me after I read it that the tips are good for children of all ages!

I won’t be with you in person this Sunday, but I will be with you in spirit and in the Spirit, as we pray, lamenting and calling for action. Doug Pagitt, our guest preacher and speaker, will be with us on behalf of Vote Common Good.

You should also know about this pastoral and prophetic message from J. Herbert Nelson, our PC(USA) stated clerk. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship is sponsoring Guns to Gardens events; find out more here.

Through all of these days, may you not only trust in the living Spirit of Christ with you but find ways, however small, to work for the common good in ways that challenge the prevalence of violence in our culture.

Blessings of peace – the kind that changes hearts and minds and creates safety for us all,
Laura