Episcopal Journal December 2018 News
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Episcopal JOURNALMONTHLY EDITION | $3.75 PER COPY VOL. 8 NO. 12 | DECEMBER 2018 Bishops offer litany The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness after gun killings did not overcome it. [The advocacy group Bishops Against Gun Violence released this letter and john 1:5 3 litany on Nov. 8, shortly after a massacre in Thousand Oaks, Calif.] Diocese pursues recovery after e mourn the murder of 12 precious children of God in fatal accident Thousand Oaks, Calif., and we NEWS weep for those who have lost peo- Wple who were dear to them. We of- fer our prayers for solace, for healing and for a change of heart among the elected leaders whose unwillingness to enact safe gun legisla- tion puts us all at risk. Much of what can be said in the wake of such appalling carnage has been said. It was said after the mass shooting at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisc., and it was said after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the two devastating events that brought Bishops United Against Gun Violence into being. And it was said most Photo/Wikimedia Commons/Pomeranian State Museum, Germany 6 “Adoration of the Shepherds,” by Gerard van Honthorst (1622) Leaders vow recently after the anti-Semitic massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue support after in Pittsburgh. Mass shootings occur so frequently in our country that synagogue attack there are people who have survived more than one. “Litany in the wake of a mass shooting,” to commemorate the dead, to NEWS While the phrase “thoughts and prayers” might have become de- comfort their loved ones and to honor survivors and first responders. valued by elected leaders who believe speaking these words discharges And we do so with the reminder that one does not pray in lieu of sum- their duty in the wake of a massacre, we nonetheless believe that we moning political courage, but in preparation for doing so. We invite are called to pray for the dead, those who mourn them and those who you to join us in this litany and our commitment to take action so that respond to the scene of mass shootings. We, thus, offer the following our country can be freed from the epidemic of gun violence. Litany in the wake of a mass shooting Thirteen dead at the Washington [D.C.] Sixteen dead at a San Bernardino, Calif., office. Navy Yard. Give to the departed eternal rest. God of peace, we remember all those who Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. have died in incidents of mass gun violence Let light perpetual shine upon them. in this nation’s public and private spaces. Ten dead at Umpqua Community College, Ore. 13 Four dead at Fort Hood, Texas. Give to the departed eternal rest. Six dead at the Wisconsin Sikh Temple. Cathedral shows Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. artistic ‘themes Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. and variations’ Let light perpetual shine upon them. Six dead in Kalamazoo, Mich. ARTS Seven dead in Isla Vista, near [University of Give to the departed eternal rest. Twelve dead at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater. California] Santa Barbara. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Four dead at a Hesston, Kansas, office. Give to the departed eternal rest. RG. Twenty-eight dead at Sandy Hook Elementary E O Five dead at Marysville Pilchuck High School G Let light perpetual shine upon them. A School in Newtown, Conn. T D I #1239 S in Washington, [D.C.]. IT O Give to the departed eternal rest. Five dead at a Wilkinsburg, Pa., backyard party. M PA Give to the departed eternal rest. -PROFIT R N US P Bellmawr NJ Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. PE Let light perpetual shine upon them. NO Let light perpetual shine upon them. Six dead at Santa Monica College, Calif. Six dead in Montgomery County, Pa. Give to the departed eternal rest. Give to the departed eternal rest. Fifty dead at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Seven dead at a Hialeah, Fla., apartment complex. Nine dead at Emanuel AME in Charleston, S.C. Give to the departed eternal rest. Give to the departed eternal rest. Five dead at Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Five dead at Fort Lauderdale Airport. piscopal Journal presents what may — church music, uplifting worship, house Give to the departed eternal rest. seem like an unusual front page for decorations, parties, gifts, etc., etc. Let light perpetual shine upon them. this year-end holy season of light The truth is that there is no age without Four dead in Fresno, Calif. E and celebration. its darkness — including the moment Jesus Give to the departed eternal rest. Surely expressions of Christmas should came into the world. “The birth occurred Let light perpetual shine upon them. be about peace and joy — or, as the greeting during or near a truly dreadful time in the cards have it, JOY. We should let nothing history of what was already a troubled and Eight dead in Lincoln County, Miss. dark or ugly intrude upon the general good turbulent land,” according to historian Give to the departed eternal rest. feelings of the season and all the trimmings Philip Jenkins, citing the political violence Let light perpetual shine upon them. continued on page 2 continued on page 2 2 EPISCOPAL JOURNAL December 2018 NEWS LITANY continued from page 1 Seventeen dead at Marjory Stoneman Let light perpetual shine upon them. All those who have died in any incident Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. of gun violence. Four dead at an Eaton Township, Pa., Four dead at the Fifth Third Center in Give to the departed eternal rest. Cincinnati. Give to the departed eternal rest. supermarket. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Five dead at the Veterans Home in Let light perpetual shine upon them. For survivors of gun violence. Yountville, Calif. Grant them comfort and healing. Nine dead at a Plano, Texas, football- Four dead at a Rite Aid distribution Give to the departed eternal rest. center in Aberdeen, Md. Hear us, Lord. watching party. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. Give to the departed eternal rest. For those who have lost loved ones to Let light perpetual shine upon them. Four dead at a Nashville, Tenn., Waffle Let light perpetual shine upon them. gun violence. House. Grant them peace. Fifty-nine dead at a Las Vegas, Nev., Eleven dead at the Tree of Life Synagogue Give to the departed eternal rest. in Pittsburgh. Hear us, Lord. concert. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Give to the departed eternal rest. Give to the departed eternal rest. For those first responders who care for Let light perpetual shine upon them. Ten dead at Santa Fe High School, Texas. Let light perpetual shine upon them. victims of gun violence. Give to the departed eternal rest. Thirteen dead at a bar in Thousand Protect and strengthen them. Twenty-seven dead at First Baptist Let light perpetual shine upon them. Hear us, Lord. Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Oaks, Calif. Give to the departed eternal rest. Five dead at the Capital Gazette Give to the departed eternal rest. Lord, have mercy. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Newspaper in Annapolis, Md. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Christ, have mercy. Give to the departed eternal rest. Lord, have mercy. Responding to the ‘exodus’ migration Supporting migrants he Diocese of Long Island said it will work By Episcopal Journal York Harbor; rather they are traveling to the southern with Episcopal Church departments and well- border to seek asylum from violence and economic, re- known organizations, such as New Sanctuary [Bishop Lawrence Provenzano made these remarks at the ligious and social discrimination. Coalition, so that its efforts will be as coor- opening of the Diocese of Long Island (N.Y.)’s annual They are coming, as many of our own families have, T dinated and effective as possible in these potentially convention.] seeking safer and better lives for themselves and their dangerous circumstances. Here are some of the plans children. that the New Sanctuary Coalition is organizing, and oday [Nov. 16] marks the recognition and cel- But they are being vilified and disparaged by a na- that the diocese may take part in: ebration of 150 years of faithful and courageous tionalist administration here, which is now permitting • Calling people to the border to set up a safe mission and ministry of our Episcopal Diocese armed, civilian militia to join the thousands of military encampment for 40 days. At the Tijuana, Mexico, T of Long Island. We serve with wholehearted in- personnel massing at the border to prevent them from border 2,000 people already await processing for asy- clusiveness a very demographically diverse population. entry to request asylum. lum. Other border towns also may need assistance.