Tag: Terrorism
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Spoiler Alert: Christmas Happens In The Real World – A Sermon On Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
I think today’s gospel (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23) should have come with a spoiler alert. So here it is. Are you ready? Spoiler Alert: Christmas happens in the real world; not in the candlelight of a silent night, and not away in a manger. Here’s why I say that: Today’s gospel spoils whatever sentimental or romantic Read more
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All Are Responsible – A Sermon On Mark 1:4-11 And Acts 19:1-7
Last week, some of you may remember, I ended my sermon by asking this question: Will we, in 2021, be different from and better than how we were in 2020? There’s not much about the first ten days of 2021 that suggests we will. I think it’s still an open question and, I hope, still… Read more
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Prayers for France and Turkey (Again)
How long, O Lord, how long? Every week we come to you adding to the list of names; victims, perpetrators, and places of violence and pain in the world. Today we hold before you the people of France and Turkey. Every night we flood our bed with tears and drench our couch with weeping. Our Read more
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Where is the Peace of God Today? – A Sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Do you want peace for yourself, your friends and family, the world? How do we begin to find that kind of peace in the midst of tragedy after tragedy? Orlando, Istanbul, Baton Rouge, Dallas. The peace we seek is not conditioned on a change in the other’s behavior but a change in our own hearts.… Read more
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Prayers for Turkey and the World
O Lord of life, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens: Our world has once again been shaken by violence, gunfire, and explosions; this time at the Istanbul airport. We are weary because of our groaning. Every night we flood our bed with tears and drench our couch with weeping. Our eyes waste Read more
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Praying for Orlando – A Service of Evening Prayer
The world is mourning the brutal murder of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters in Orlando. How should we respond to such breathtaking violence? Read more
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Praying for Beirut and Paris
Dear People of God, our world has again been shaken by violence, gunfire, and explosions. Hear then the words of the psalmist who said, “For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.” Read more
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Yeh hum naheen – this is not us
“Yeh hum naheen” means “this is not us.” The song is a statement that the violence of terrorism is not Islam. Terrorism and violence are not simply Islamic issues. They are issues of humanity. So maybe we should see the video and hear the words as a reminder that any violence is not us, regardless Read more
Interrupting the Silence 