Dear Caldwell,
First, we faced the reality of Covid 19 and went into lockdown.
Then we lost our beloved Leroy Stinson to cancer.
Now we mourn the tragic death of Wilma Petty – her life cut short by senseless, needless violence.
I don’t know about you, but my mind is filled with questions:
How can this be?
When will these sorrows ease up?
When will we be able to be together again to worship and also to mourn?
My God, my God, why have you forsaken us?
As one of your pastors, I am called by God and by you all to walk with you, to pray with you and for you, and also to point you all towards the God who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. That’s why I am here. And I am here, friends. Reach out to me if you want to talk and pray.
As one of your co-travelers on this faith journey we find ourselves on, I grieve. I weep. I cry out to God for mercy, for relief, for a break – because this is too hard and too heavy. It’s just too much.
There are no words.
When words fail us, when we don’t know what to say or how to pray, I take comfort in Bible verses like Romans 8:26 – “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (New International Version)
Even the Spirit ends up groaning sometimes.
Friends, this is a time to groan. This is a time to moan.
This is a time to weep with Wilma’s family.
This is a time to grieve for Wilma.
This is also the time to remember her.
This is the time to honor her life and legacy.
You are invited to join me tonight at 7 pm for Preacher’s Porch. Come with your stories, your memories, your tears, and your sorrow.
We will continue our celebration and our grief on Thursday at 8 pm during Vespers. Join us then for more conversation, for reflection, and for prayer. The links for both of these gatherings are in the usual places.
Let us gather – both tonight and Thursday – with the trust and belief that, just as Jesus wept with Mary and Martha upon the loss of their beloved brother, Lazarus, in John chapter 11, Jesus is weeping with us upon the loss of our beloved sister, Wilma.
Please click here to read John’s reflections on his visit to the place where Wilma’s life was taken from her.
I will be preaching on Sunday from Matthew 14:13-21. We may not get to discuss it tonight, but here is the link to that passage nonetheless.
May God’s comforting presence be with us all, hold us all, and carry us through this valley in the shadow of death.
Groaning and praying, Gail
PS. How can this be?