The Sunday following the shooting of 9 black church goers in Charleston, S.C., was hard for me to get through. I am not sure which emotions that were running through me were throwing me off the most; the sadness for the families of these people who had just lost loved ones in senseless violence, the disappointment that there is still so much racial tension in my country, the anger that someone would do such a thing, the violation that a Bible study in a church was desecrated, the resignation that this was not the first and probably not the last we'll see of this sort of thing, or a myriad of other thoughts and emotions that were rolling inside me. I was able to hold it enough at bay to function, but not far enough to be numb. I didn't want to be numb to it, and I still don't. I posted the sermon I preached that morning without even listening to it first, just unedited and raw.
What got me through the service was our liturgy, that's the church-y word for the form of our worship service. (It has roots in laos - the people (also laity) and ergos - works, so worship is the work of the people.) This congregation still uses the green Lutheran Book of Worship (aka LBW), which I grew up using. I have used these same words over a thousand times in my life, but on this recent Father's day they spoke to me in ways I needed to hear. The opening of our communion setting is a call and response between a minister and the congregation it goes as follows:
In peace let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord
Amen
I was having trouble finding words, and here we were with words of prayer for peace. Week after week we acknowledge our need for God's intervention in our lives, for peace, for our well-being, with these words and it really hit home for me that Sunday. I almost choked as I chanted out the last line, "Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord." because I, like many others, was reeling from this horrific event that happened in a sanctuary. Where was their defense? Why weren't they saved from this? Where is the comfort for their families? Where is the peace?
I realize any attempt I make to answer any of those questions will simply appear trite or defensive. So I won't even try, I will only point you to the answers of the families. The answer the families of the victims gave speak the truth in the face of insecurity, hatred, and violence. They forgave the murderer of their loved ones, and prayed he may receive God's mercy. That is where God is in the midst of all these terrible and tragic things we do to one another.
So we will continue to speak these words, or words like them. They are the work of the people, and there is much work to be done as we wait for the kingdom of God, where we won't have to pray in hope of these things, but have them for all people. Until then, we will continue to speak up, stand up, and do this work. The work that has been God's mission for his church in all ages, and continues in our traditions today. For peace. Lord have mercy.
What got me through the service was our liturgy, that's the church-y word for the form of our worship service. (It has roots in laos - the people (also laity) and ergos - works, so worship is the work of the people.) This congregation still uses the green Lutheran Book of Worship (aka LBW), which I grew up using. I have used these same words over a thousand times in my life, but on this recent Father's day they spoke to me in ways I needed to hear. The opening of our communion setting is a call and response between a minister and the congregation it goes as follows:
In peace let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord
Lord have mercy
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord
Amen
I was having trouble finding words, and here we were with words of prayer for peace. Week after week we acknowledge our need for God's intervention in our lives, for peace, for our well-being, with these words and it really hit home for me that Sunday. I almost choked as I chanted out the last line, "Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord." because I, like many others, was reeling from this horrific event that happened in a sanctuary. Where was their defense? Why weren't they saved from this? Where is the comfort for their families? Where is the peace?
I realize any attempt I make to answer any of those questions will simply appear trite or defensive. So I won't even try, I will only point you to the answers of the families. The answer the families of the victims gave speak the truth in the face of insecurity, hatred, and violence. They forgave the murderer of their loved ones, and prayed he may receive God's mercy. That is where God is in the midst of all these terrible and tragic things we do to one another.
So we will continue to speak these words, or words like them. They are the work of the people, and there is much work to be done as we wait for the kingdom of God, where we won't have to pray in hope of these things, but have them for all people. Until then, we will continue to speak up, stand up, and do this work. The work that has been God's mission for his church in all ages, and continues in our traditions today. For peace. Lord have mercy.
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