Saturday, December 15, 2012

Sandy Hook Shooting



Saturday after Advent III
December 15, 2012

The Lord be with you

My prayers ascend to the Lord of mercy on behalf of the families of the shooting victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. In total there are 28 dead, 20 of which were children.

Some will use this tragedy to argue for banning guns in America. Others will use it to argue for a greater presence of religion in our schools. Still others will use it to argue that God doesn’t exist. Other “special” interests will see in this sad event some opportunity to argue for their cause.

I encourage you to see this as a call to prayer. Pray for the families who lost loved ones, that the God of all consolation will provide them with the consolation they need. Pray for the city of Newtown, that this horrific act may bring them together instead of driving them apart. Pray that other troubled people do not draw some unwholesome inspiration from this and seek to copy it.

Pray also for all the schools in our land, both religious and secular, that they may be nurseries of wholesome values and knowledge, so that our children may grow up to be a blessing to others. May they learn respect, humility, compassion, courage, as well as how to read and write.

Pray for our country in general, that we repent of our arrogance and humbly come to the Lord of all to receive forgiveness. Pray that we may do our part to help the poor, hungry, destitute, sick, abused, and imprisoned, instead of always expecting others to do it. Pray for a unity that is based on godly principles.

Let others use this tragedy as they will. As for me, I will use it as a call to prayer.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

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