Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Hear us, O God, we beseech You, and comfort us with Your steady hand as we come before You this day in the wake of unspeakable violence. In a world that seems hopeless, help us to remember that our hope rests always in You, our God, forever and ever. Amen.
These words opened an ecumenical prayer vigil for an end to gun violence at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis on December 10. The service was the highlight of the Diocese of Missouri's Gun Violence Awareness Sunday.
Religious leaders from seven faith traditions united for this vigil to remember those who have died or been victimized by gun violence.
The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson began the service by encouraging everyone to get involved in the work of gun violence prevention, even if it seems at times that you are not making a difference. "For every life that is not lost, every victim that is not had, it makes a difference. Even gathering to raise awareness makes a difference. Each one of us, no matter who we are, are all effected by the residual of gun violence in our communities, our neighborhoods, and in our towns and cities. So we gather tonight in the spirit of hope."
In her reflection, the Very Rev. Kathie Adams-Shepherd, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, told the crowd that before coming to the Diocese of Missouri, she served as the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Newtown, CT. She was in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012, when a deeply troubled young man shot and killed 20 children and six adult educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She had baptized one of the children who died. Another child who died and their family were members of her parish. She was with families who gathered immediately after the shooting, and provided pastoral care as they learned the horrible details of the day.
"I know firsthand what guns and semi-automatic, military-style weapons in the hands of those untrained and particularly those with brain health challenges can do," Adams-Shepherd said.
She also was among those who lobbied for common sense gun legislation in Connecticut (which passed) and at the U.S. Capitol. "It didn't happen then, and it hasn't happened on the federal level yet. In fact, here in Missouri, the laws have diminished in my time here, resulting in more deaths, juveniles with access to weapons walking legally down the streets of St. Louis, and children killing children."
The Dean encouraged the crowd to use their voices, their pens, their votes, and their faith to do all we can to end the scourge of gun violence. "I believe it is impossible to profess God without working for God's beloved community."
Following the Dean's reflection, local leaders from other denominations read prayers and lit candles in remembrance of all victims of gun violence. Then the light of the candles was passed throughout everyone in attendance.
As the service ended, the congregation was invited to the parish hall for fellowship and to join a letter writing campaign to leaders of the Missouri legislature, get information about the Diocese of Missouri's Be SMART campaign, and get a free gun lock from Lock It For Love.
See the online photo gallery here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/diocesemo/albums/721...
This prayer vigil was hosted by The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Central States Synod: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Participants included:
- The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
- The Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis
- Rev. Ryan J. Landino, Presbytery Leader, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
- Brandon Bezzant, St. Louis Stake President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Rev. Dr. Linden Bowie, President, Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri
- Bishop Robert Farr, Missouri Conference, The United Methodist Church
- Rev. Dr. Jill V. Seagle, Central States Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Learn more about the Diocese of Missouri's Mission for Gun Violence Prevention.