Author: Pastor Deborah

“To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear?  See, their ears are closed, they cannot listen….For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.  They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace.”  Jeremiah 6:10a,13-14

Jeremiah is shouting at the leaders of Jerusalem (which means, “city of peace”!) with God’s message of anger toward those who should know better.  Those entrusted with caring for the people have “put on band-aids, saying, ‘It’s not so bad.  You’ll be just fine.'” (Eugene Peterson)

Things are not fine.  How many mass shootings is it going to take for us–all of us–to deal directly with the sources–and there are multiple–of the wounding of our people–God’s people– wherever they live, whatever they believe, whatever language they speak?  Will it be this 45th shooting in one year?  May it be so.

Seems there are a variety of ways to respond when something you love and respect has been vandalized by someone who clearly does not share the same love and respect.  Like your sanctuary.

In the aftermath of a recent act of vandalism, I observed the following responses:  church members who said “It could have been a lot worse!” and Continue reading “Responding after vandalism” →