How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
– Psalm 13:1-2
We mourn the loss of life from yesterday’s shooting in Nashville and all those who have been affected by the acts of violence and terror. With just 89 days so far in the year, the attack at Covenant School was America’s 129th mass shooting of 2023. 12 of those attacks have been school shootings that have resulted in deaths or injuries.
When the news broke of the shooting, the words of Psalm 13 came to my (Pastor Corey) mind. “How long, O Lord?” the Psalmist cries to God. My heart cried the same.
“How long, O Lord?”
How long must our communities endure these acts of terror?
How long will children be afraid to go to school and parents worry for their safety?
How long will leaders bicker with each other and fight change within our laws and systems of governance to mitigate these acts of violence?
How long must we grieve lives lost–including the youngest in our communities–because of gun violence?
How Long, O Lord?
As United Methodist, we believe that Christians must act to protect the sanctity of life. As followers of Jesus called to live into the reality of God’s dream of shalom as described by Micah 4, we must address the epidemic of gun violence so “that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in God’s paths.” Therefore, we call upon United Methodists to prayerfully address gun violence (2016 Book of Resolutions, #3428).
I continue to join my voice with others in the Church as we together seek to see a new day in our country where pain and sorrow and death will no longer be visited on innocent children. I invite you to join your voice with mine along with thousands of United Methodist around the world by joining the communications and work being done through The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) who are dedicated to the work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace in our world. GBCS routinely provides Calls to Action and ways to transform our world towards peace and wholeness.
I also invite you to join me in praying for the victims of The Covenant School shooting through a prayer and message from Bishop Dan Schwerin of the Northern Illinois Conference:
“Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ.
You may have learned that earlier today, an armed attacker killed three children and three adults at Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn. Bishop Bill McAlilly of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference has asked United Methodists to be in prayer for our neighbors, especially the many children, parents, and teachers affected by this violence. I invite you to join me in this prayer:
Prince of Peace,
We give thanks that love is the source of your power.
You chose a cross rather than suggest the world could be redeemed by violence.
In a defining moment, you asked Peter to put his sword away.
You saw your mother’s grief at the foot of your cross.
Today we pray for mothers, fathers, families, coworkers, teachers, and children who grieve as a result of the school shooting in Nashville today. We pray for their healing and our own.
Sovereign God, guide all governments with wisdom to serve the powerless first. Grant us leadership that prioritizes the well-being of the next generation.
Holy Spirit, search our hearts with your love.
Create in us a clean heart, O God. Put a new and right spirit within us.
May peace be in our steps.
Hallowed be your name.
Amen.
Dan Schwerin, Bishop
Northern Illinois Conference UMC”