“I can’t keep going to church, if we’re going to pretend that nothing is going on.”

AGVC members were struck by these words from a parishioner in our Diocese. He talked about how he was having to question his beliefs about guns – beliefs he’d held his entire life. As he witnessed mass shooting after mass shooting, he felt afraid and worried and ashamed. More than anything, he felt despair. Week after week, he went to church, and no one said anything. Church was where he had wrestled with many hard life moments: job changes, illness, learning how to parent. There was always a place for his pain. But now? Nothing.

Your people need to hear from you. Not for politics, not for debate. But for reassurance that your church and our God can hold this pain with them. We can find a way together.

Anti-Gun Violence Commission’s Guiding Questions for Preaching on Gun Violence

Lisa L. Thompson: Preaching and teaching about gun violence from Faith & Leadership, April 18, 2017

When’s the Last Time You Heard a Sermon about Gun Violence from Sojourners, October 9, 2017

Sample Sermon: What to do with all this gun violence: a sermon preached by Chris Neufeld-Erdman on December 6, 2015 (Advent 2)

Sample Sermon: “Do we believe in miracles? A sermon on gun violence” preached by The Reverend Canon Sarah Hedgis in June 2016 (Wear Orange Sunday)

Sample Sermon: The Wilderness Of Gun Violence – A Sermon On Mark 1:9-15 preached by The Reverend Michael K. Marsh on February 19, 2018 (Lent 1)

Sample Sermon: A Sample Sermon for Stand Up Sunday from the United Methodist Church

Sample Sermon: The Rich Fool: Greed, Guns and White Supremacy preached by The Rev. Michelle Bullock on August 4, 2019

Prayer for the Holy Spirit (BCP p. 251)

Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.