A slide of the victims in the Virginia Beach shooting was shown during a news conference on Saturday. (Credit Eric Baradat/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
“VIRGINIA BEACH — The Virginia authorities on Saturday identified the dozen victims of a shooting rampage at a government office complex…Most of the victims, city officials said, worked for the Virginia Beach government, several of them for decades.” – The New York Times (06/01/2019)
Dear Friends,
Pray with me this week for all the victims of violence, of every kind. Let us also pray that those in our society with grievances, whatever their cause, would work to resolve their angst in peaceable ways.
Blessings,
Pastor Basile
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52, NIV)
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29, NLT)
From a prayer by Alden Solovy, Jewish liturgist, poet, and writer…
“God of the slain,
God of the murdered and the victim,
The voice of lamentation echoes across the land.
Wailing beside graves opened too soon,
Weeping beside stains of blood
From the dead and the injured
Pouring forth from bullet wounds:
The child shot,
The suicide,
The domestic assault,
The gang violence,
The mass murder…
Source of justice,
Rock of strength and truth,
You call upon us to stand
In the name of common sense and reason:
To witness on behalf of the innocent and the cut down –
The widowed, orphaned and bereaved –
To answer the scourge of senseless loss…
Bless those who are mourning the dead.
Grant them solace and comfort.
Bless those who are healing from the trauma of gun violence.
Grant them lives of health and prosperity,
Joy and peace.
Blessed are You, God of All Being,
Who summons us to choose life,
First, choose life,
Above all,
Choose life.”