A Pastoral Note on Gun Violence and Mass Shootings - May 19, 2022

Dear friends,

Few would argue that these are exceptionally difficult times we live in. This makes the recent shootings in a supermarket in Buffalo and a church in Laguna Woods, just a few miles from our parish, even more horrendous. We live amid an epidemic of gun violence where mass shootings in our country now occur not as an exception but with sickening regularity. We are confronted with the evil of racism and how it continues to destroy innocent lives simply because of the color of their skin. No matter the motivation behind these senseless acts of brutality our hearts are shattered yet again with this senseless loss of life. It hits us even harder when these atrocities happen to a neighboring congregation just a few miles away in Laguna Woods.

How do we do as Christians respond to such horrific acts of violence? Here at St. Michael and All Angels, we are committed to welcoming everyone to our services. This act of hospitality is part of our Christian identity. At the same time, we have a responsibility to keep everyone as safe as possible, especially those most vulnerable. This means we will remain vigilant and do our best to be prepared for any threat or emergency as we continue to offer the gift of hospitality, welcoming everyone as if it were Christ himself.

As Christians, we also pray. Please join us in person or via Zoom for our Friday evening prayer vigil at 6:00 pm. We will continue to pray for victims of the Ukraine war as well as for all victims of violence, including the victims of the shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Woods, calling them out by name. We do this in keeping with our baptismal covenant where we vow to respect the dignity of every human being as a child of God.

You may access Bishop Michael Curry’s and Bishop Taylor’s remarks on the Buffalo shooting in the following links:

• Pastoral statement on mass shooting in Buffalo from Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry (May 16, 2022)
• A Word to the Church: Political Violence and Christian Citizenship (May 18, 2022)