Bishop calls for prayer following plane crash
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” -- Psalm 34:18
Beloved,
The leaders and members of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area join me in grieving the loss of life aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which were involved in a mid-air collision Wednesday night. After the collision, both aircraft plunged into the icy Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Our hearts break for the 64 people on the flight from Wichita, Kansas, and the three soldiers on the helicopter. We pray for their families, loved ones and friends struggling to come to terms with this tragic news. We also pray for the first responders, who are recovering bodies from the water. As of this morning, no survivors have been found.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to all who mourn those lost in this tragedy. It can feel impossible to make sense of this terrifying and horrible loss. And, so we pray, confident that God will be present with all those who have been affected.
In our sorrow, we seek God’s mercy and consolation for those whose lives have been shattered. In this time of difficulty, we turn to God’s sacred and healing light and lean on the promise of God’s uplifting and abiding love. May we also support one another in our grief and pain as the days unfold.
Blessings and peace,
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area
The United Methodist Church