Bishop's Response to Las Vegas Gun Violence

From Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi

In times like these, our response must be grounded in prayer. I urge every United Methodist in Western Pennsylvania to commit to pray for the next 59 days for the families who were impacted by this violence.  

I am still in a state of disbelief regarding the massacre in Las Vegas.   I have been vascillating between disbelief and feelings of anger, grief, and profound sadness.  I have tried to make sense of a senseless act and that has left me frustrated.  I have cried out to God asking how many more times we have to wake up to hear news of such devastation.

I wish that as your Episcopal leader I had words that could provide comfort and peace.  I wish I could provide an environment where we all feel safe at all times.  I can not. 

But I refuse to be paralyzed by this senseless massacre.  I will put feet and hands to my prayers. I will continue and ask you to uphold, advocate for, and demand adherence to our Social Principles pertaining to gun violence. I urge you to read and follow Our Call to End Gun Violence, which was adopted by our 2016 General Conference and is Resolution 3428 in the 2016 Book of Resolutions.

In times like these, our response must be grounded in prayer. I urge every United Methodist in Western Pennsylvania to commit to pray for the next 59 days for the families who were impacted by this violence. I suggest that you pray each day by name for a different family who lost a loved one and for healing for those still hospitalized and those who witnessed this mass shooting. I also urge you to pray for the family of the perpetrator of this massacre.  And as you are praying, intercede on behalf of all of those in Western Pennsylvania who have been impacted by gun violence.  Pray, act, pray, act, pray.

They shall sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

--  Micah 4:4 

The names and brief profiles of the victims  are available here.