Pray

I cannot imagine the horror that has fallen on the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (read story here), the community of Charleston, and then the greater community of Christians all around the world.  I am pierced with sadness and grief.  No, I don't know anyone that was part of this tragedy.  But I'm a pastor, a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and a Christian.  This should make those of us who call upon Jesus as our savior and talk about brothers and sisters in Christ mournful as part of our greater family has experienced such loss.  And I guess why this happens to really cause me sadness and reflection is because it happened at a church, while members were studying and in fellowship together.

I don't want to take up too much space with words, because there are no words, no sermons, no pontificating that will make this more bearable.  This is a tragedy!  So I call on all who read this blog or my Facebook posts, etc. to pray.  Pray for the families of those who have suffered loss.  Pray for the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.  Pray for Charleston.  Pray for followers of Jesus.  Pray that the shooter is found.  Pray that people can be reminded that we live in the unshakeable Kingdom of God even when tragedy strikes.  Pray that those who have suffered loss can grieve and mourn and be surrounded by love and care from others.  And if you cannot pray any of those things, just say the Lord's prayer:

Our Father in Heaven
Holy be Your Name
Your Kingdom come
Your Will be done
on Earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our debts
As we have also forgiven our debtors
And lead us not into temptation 
But deliver us from the evil one
For Yours is the Kingdom 
And the power and the glory
Forever, Amen!

---