Prayer for Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut
hear your diverse peopleAmen.
as a world unites in prayer and compassion
for the people of Newtown Connecticut.
We pray for all involved in the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Bless with your kindness those who speak to the broken-hearted.
Bless the teachers, paramedics, medical staff and police
with courage, skill and wisdom.
Bless those who mourn.
Bless those who grieve
and comfort the bewildered.
Help us each to build a world safe and fit for children.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Rend the heavens and rend our hearts. Whatever it takes, we need it now. It is unimaginable that we are still waiting for God to come and save us from ourselves. Whatever relief there is from this horror, we cannot seem to provide it.
We can't even seem to talk about how to prevent it.
Great grief is never great at talking; it is not words, but tears and a sob and a heartbreak. This House has today reflected that more than I have ever seen in the many years I have sat in it. When I heard about the tragedy, I thought of the text of scripture that says: "Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted … because they were not." Today I think of those who weep for their children and cannot be comforted because they are not. That text comes from Old Testament prophecy and it holds out a great hope.
ReplyDeleteOver against the wickedness of this crime I hear the words of the Saviour, who said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God." I trust that that faith and that hope will cast a beautiful rainbow over this terrible valley of tears.
I would associate the people of Northern Ireland in sympathy with the people of Dunblane. We have walked our valleys; we too have known the anguish; we too have felt the pain. Deep today calls unto deep from Northern Ireland to those who sorrow in Scotland.
14 March 1996, but as relevant now to Newtown, Connecticut, as it was then to Dunblane, Stirlingshire. And the fact that it came from - of all people - Rev Ian Paisley makes it even better.
James, many are reminded of of the two passages mentioned in the statement - Rachel weeping for her children and Jesus' words about the children coming to him. I have to say, it is at times like this that I am grateful for my faith and prayers, which I hope will turn into actions that will help prevent this sort of tragedy in the future.
Deletethe people in decatur, il.is praying for this community our hearts go out to everyone that is affected by this tragedy. this is a very sad moment may god hold you all close to him . love the residents of decatur il.
ReplyDeletejanet, we have close friends in Newtown and visited there several times, which makes us feel the tragedy more. All prayers are appreciated, I'm sure.
Deletethere was another incident today at an elementary school in China. The assailant used a knife. 22 children and one adult wounded. Rachel is indeed weeping.
ReplyDeletetonip, I read the story. Mass killings with weapons other than guns are rare, and mass killings here in the US are no longer isolated incidents.
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