Susan Henry Crowe, from the General Board of Church and Society reminds us that, “as United Methodists, we recognize that gun violence has become an all-too-frightening phenomenon. Now more than ever, let's stand together in “Our Call to End Gun Violence.” (2016 Book of Resolutions, #3428)
Let us join other United Methodists in this effort and act now:
- Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and demand action to prevent gun violence and enact lifesaving gun legislation.
- Make monetary donations, and donate blood! Click here to find the closest donation place.
- Pray! Yes, praying is still important - the General Commission on Religion and Race invites us to a 6-week prayer challenge, beginning June 19th. Here is a prayer that we can start with:
"God of grace, the pain around us is indescribable. The suffering we see every day makes us question your existence and presence in this world. All the work done for racial and social justice seems to not be enough. How long, will you hide your face from us, O Holy God? How long will we need to suffer before you pay attention to us? We continue to see BIPoC and trans lives cut short, people deemed unworthy and invisible, and immigrants labeled as aliens. Our hearts break every time we learn of another black person lynched, another brown person murdered, another indigenous child forced to speak English, another trans person who goes missing to later be found dead. We experience rage when we see borders tightened, fences built and young people who know only this country, to be deported to a land they have never seen before. We lament at the unfair voting restrictions, experience food deserts, and visit gentrified communities that continue to displace poor and underprivileged people. We seek justice every day! We feel defeated every day! The harder we try, the tighter the grip of white supremacy seems to get around our necks. We feel we are fighting alone. You are hiding your face from us, it seems, creator God! How long will we experience this defeat? How long will we suffer the pain? How long before we can breathe the fresh air of equity and justice? We are tired God! We have no more tears to cry. We have no energy. We feel numb. We wish to give up. Look at us, divine Wisdom! Have mercy on your people! Restore hope among us! Show us signs of your presence. Hear our humble cries! Help us Holy God, to not ignore our anger and our frustration, but to share it with you in a way that re-energizes us to continue the work: to seek justice, to demand equity for all, and to stand in the margins with the hurting. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.”
To use the prayers resources available from GCORR, and to sign up for the “Race and Justice Prayer and Action challenge” use this link.
Speaking also of prayer and action - we will be focusing on the ‘Politics of Jesus’ for our June worship and Sermon series, as we also prepare for Pride celebrations and parade. I hope you will plan on marching with us in the Pride Parade, as we continue to walk our talk.
