The news of horrific violence in an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., fills us with a deep sadness and grief. We pray God’s compassion and mercy for the many people who are directly affected by this unspeakable tragedy.
We cry out to God in anguish, “Enough! Too many children, too many people have died.” We pray for a time of earnest searching and serious discussion about guns and violence in our culture.
In this Advent season, we yearn for God’s kingdom of justice and peace to break into our lives and for the Prince of Peace to be born among us. We pray for God’s Spirit to equip us to be agents of comfort and peace in our families and our neighborhoods.
—Ervin R. Stutzman, executive director, Mennonite Church USA
Resources from Mennonite Central Committee for talking about gun violence in your congregation and community are available at: http://www.mcc.org/FearNot/communities