April 17, 2007

Dear Friends:

Yesterday morning began very peacefully, but before noon we again experienced a national tragedy, this time at Virginia Tech University.

As I heard the news I experienced once again all our past national tragedies of a similar nature, as well as past family tragedies. It will take all of us a period of time to regain our balance and to once again move forward. But for now this is where we are, and we must not try and push it down or hide from our grief and sense of national loss.

In light of these events I am calling upon us, the people who are St. Theodore's, to begin a time of doing what we do best – to pray “unceasingly ” for the next seven days.

I am also asking every one of us to pause each day at noon and pray specifically for those lives directly impacted by these terrible events.

There are many good prayers beginning on page 814 of the Book of Common Prayer that can help guide you. If you are in need of a prayer book, we have a number of gently used books we have “retired” that are free and are on the table by the office.

I am also asking that each of us spend a time of quiet each day asking God how we can be the instruments of peace in this increasingly violent world. As you enter into that time you might want to do so by first reading Psalm 121, Psalm 23, or Psalm 46. You might also want to read Romans 8:14-19,34-35,37-39. You might include Matthew 5:1-12.

There will be a candle on the altar that will burn continuously during the next seven days. There is a kneeler at the foot of the Paschal Candle that is also available to you if you want to come to church for a time of prayer and meditation.

When our son died we received as a gift the book A Broken Heart Still Beats. This book helped us fully experience the grief of the moment and at the same time look with hope to the future. Also it was the prayers of others that helped us through this time including the prayers of people we did not know but experienced through God's mysterious ways. Let us pray unceasingly for those in need, for wisdom for those in positions of authority, and for the comfort for those who weep and mourn this day.

In Christ,

Fr. Ken †

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