Let us place our trust in God, not in guns

Today was a horrible day.  I expected to go shopping for Christmas but then I heard on the TV the news of the massacre in Newtown CT.  The whole day the TV talked about nothing but the problem.  I sent out a prayer to the prayer chain.

I am so upset that we are now in a period where we can't go shopping, to the movies or even to elementary school without fear of a crazy person shooting you.  Let's pray for the victims and for all of us to see that something can be done to stop these things.  Get rid of the easy access to guns.

 

The prayer from my church was We pray, O God, that you are present with the poor families of those victims of this devastating shooting spree in Newtown, Connecticut.  It's really unfathomable what has happened

 

People talked about it on  Facebook all day.  None could believe this was happening to young Innocent children.  The President came on air and broke down because he was thinking of his two daughters and the children whose lives have been cut short.

 

Here is the report from the UCC about the massacre.

 

The National Officers of the United Church of Christ issued this reflection and prayer in response to the elementary school shooting in Connecticut which resulted in the deaths of 27 people, the majority of which were children under 10 years old.

Reflection from Amistad Chapel:
This afternoon, we gathered in the Amistad Chapel to pray, to share our grief and our frustration. We gathered to lament the loss of life that has taken place today in Newtown Connecticut. This loss of innocent lives is a national tragedy. It took place in Connecticut, but it affects the whole country. Of course, we identify with the people of Connecticut closely. We grieve for the children who died, for the teachers and administrators who died, for their families and their schoolmates. Our prayers are with them today, and in the coming days and weeks.
As we grieve we are aware that this kind of tragedy happens over and over again in this country where for some the gun has become God. We must renew our efforts to control guns and thereby prevent violent tragedies such as this. We must learn how to place our trust in God, not in arms. We must turn swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks.

Our Prayer:
Loving God, our hearts are broken as we take in the tragedy at Sandy Hook School in Newtown. Tears flow as we see the pictures of young children, teachers and parents fleeing a scene of terror and fear, and as we hear the shaken voices of those who escaped. But mostly, Holy One, we are simply stunned that this kind of violence has once again erupted in our nation. We lift our prayers to you now, prayers that your comfort will surround the families of those children and teachers who lost their lives, and prayers for the community of Newtown. We pray for the hope brought afresh to us by the birth of the Prince of Peace this time of year. May it be born in us and infuse all of our relationships. May your hope and peace touch this world as never before. May your love crowd out our despair and feelings of helplessness. May the star which rested over that manger light the way we take as peacemakers. In the name of the One who is to be born we pray. Amen.

The Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ
The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black 

General Minister and President

W. Mark Clark 

Associate General Minister

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess 

Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries

The Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo 

Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries

The Rev. James Moos

Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries

 

I visited Amistad  Chapel when I was in Cleveland.  It is a peaceful place/

The Connecticut Conference of the UCC is weeping for the people of Newton.  Here is the link to the prayers. http://www.ucc.org/news/connecticut-weeps-for-the.html
The conference minister is Rev Chuck Wildman who used to be a minister in the New Jersey Association of the UCC and I have met him.

Jeannette Brown
Christ Church Summit NJ.
UCC Representative.