| Shootings prompt prayer vigil by Erik Alsgaard UMConnection Staff An estimated 100 people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil on the front lawn of Millian Memorial UMC in Rockville Oct. 5, to pray for peace, healing and hope in the wake of a spree of shootings in Montgomery County. Six people have died as a result of this series of shootings, five in Montgomery County, and one in Washington, D.C. Two others were injured in shootings in Virginia and Bowie. We felt a need to do something, to have the faith community make a statement, said the Rev. Marcus Matthews, Washington West District superintendent. Most of the shootings occurred in that district. Were a praying people, and this is what we have to offer: the power of prayer. Matthews said that he hoped the shootings would prompt people of faith to action. With this happening in our own back (yard) now, I think people are beginning to react differently. The reality is, we know this happens all over the world, and as a church we have been silent too long. I think its time for the church to speak out. When it happens to one, it happens to all of us. Part of the reason for the vigil, said the Rev. Douglas Sands, chairman of the conferences committee on drugs and violence and pastor of Simpson-Hamline UMC in Washington, D.C., is that Gods people need to come together. We are not only here to come in sympathy and accord for the loss of life in our communities, but also to remind ourselves that we are the church, the church of Jesus Christ. We are disciples of the One who has left us the commandment to love God, to love each other, and also that matchless commandment to love our enemies. We yearn for justice just as much as we yearn for mercy. I must confess, I had a genuine sense of outrage, said Tim Warner, director of Holy Boldness ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, when he heard of the shootings. Im sure most of you probably shared in that sense of outrage. Warner wondered what the response of the church should be. Should we be in a hurry to go, and each of us find a hunting rifle and go chasing after this person? Should we even be so concerned about lethal injection or electric chair in this kind of a situation? he asked. Warner said the Lord reminded him of 2 Corinthians 10. We make war on the floor; Gods people pray, he said. Gods people beseech the power thats greater than any bullet, thats greater than any gun, he said. Power that transforms lives, power that raises people from the gutter-most of lifes existence to the utter-most of Gods glory. That kind of power, each of us has access to. Gloria Williams, a member of the Millian Memorial UMC since 1974, came to the vigil because one of the shootings happened two blocks from where she lives, and the mobile police headquarters is set up one block from her house. All of this is just so near, she said. My faith is important all the time, but particularly right now. We just need all the prayer we can have. Were not going to be a people of fear. We are a people of love and compassion who reach out. Love is stronger than any hate, said the Rev. Connie Paulson, pastor of Millian Memorial UMC since 1998. Its very inspirational to see people of faith come together. Paulson said she would be preaching Oct 6, World Communion Sunday, about trusting God. We get our daily bread, we have to trust on God every day because we dont know whats going to happen. | 
Login/Register to leave comment