Dear ones in the Southeastern Iowa Synod,
Tonight, June 2, there was a fatal shooting at Cornerstone Church in Ames. Only a week ago I wrote to you about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Before that, there were the racially-motivated shootings in Buffalo and another shooting at a Taiwanese congregation in California. Mass shootings are so numerous. Last week I wrote, “Hope in Christ calls us to engage this complex issue in our homes, our communities, and even in our congregations so that we, as Christians and as citizens, may work together with local, state, and federal leaders toward safety and peace.”
Tonight, we mourn gun violence in our nation and pray for the community at Cornerstone Church, the city of Ames, Story County, and our state. We pray,
God of peace, we remember all those who have died in incidents of mass gun violence in this nation’s public and private spaces in recent days.
For those who died at Cornerstone Church in Ames.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
For the shooting at the clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
For the shooting at a funeral in Racine, Wisconsin.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
All those who have died in any incident of gun violence.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
For survivors of gun violence.
Grant them comfort and healing.
Hear us, Lord.
For those who have lost loved ones to gun violence.
Grant them peace.
Hear us, Lord.
For those first responders who care for victims of gun violence.
Protect and strengthen them.
Hear us, Lord.
For those who live in fear of gun violence in their schools, places of worship, workplaces, homes, and neighborhoods.
Grant them protection and comfort.
Hear us, Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Oh Lord, we remember before you all those whose lives have been ended or shattered by gun violence. We pray that this country may wake up to the horror of gun violence and work toward peace and freedom from fear. All this we ask in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[1]
Peace be with you,
Bishop Amy Current
[1] Adapted from “Prayer Service of Lament” (2019) from Bishops Against Gun Violence https://bishopsagainstgunviolence.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BUAGV.EPPN-Prayer-Service-of-Lament-for-GV-3.1-final.pdf
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