Dear Friends,
This morning, we learned from the Rev’d Kurt Dunkle of a terrible tragedy at his parish in Florida. It is now public knowledge that a parishioner killed his two children and then killed himself this morning. The children attended the day school and the wife (who was unharmed) is a secretary at the day school.
I spoke with Fr. Dunkle earlier today and assured him that the Diocese of Louisiana will lift him, his church, and the family so horribly traumatized by these events in prayer in the coming days.
Fr. Dunkle will make every effort to be in Louisiana to meet with the clergy on Friday and the laity on Saturday at the walkabouts, but we all most certainly understand that he will need to respond to this pastoral emergency as the situation continues to develop.
May the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Yours in Christ,
David Pitts
Chair, The Episcopate Committee
How tragic! Please pray especially for the wife and mother of this family, for all those who love them, for Fr. Dunkle, who is one of the candidates for bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, and for the parishioners of his church.
Receive, O Lord, your servants, for they return to you.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.
Wash them in the holy font of everlasting life, and clothe them in the heavenly wedding garment.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.
May they hear your words of invitation, “Come, you blessed of my Father.”
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.
May they gaze upon you, Lord, face to face, and taste the blessedness of perfect rest.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.
May angels surround them, and saints welcome them in peace.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brothers and sister.
Almighty God, our Father in heaven, before whom live all who die in the Lord: Receive our brothers and sister into the courts of your heavenly dwelling place. Let their hearts and souls now ring out in joy to you, O Lord, the living God, and the God of those who live. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
....
Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray thee, with all those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, pp. 465-466, 489)
Prayers.
ReplyDeleteAmen
ReplyDeleteYes, prayers.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Prayers indeed.
ReplyDeleteHow very sad. My prayers are added for the wife and mother left, and the Parish that now must deal with the questions and pain from this tragedy.
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