We woke up today to the horrific news of shootings in two mosques in Christ Church, New Zealand in which at least 49 people were killed during Friday prayers. These terrorist acts are evil and as Christians we must stand in solidarity with any group of people whether religious or not who come under such attack. And we must work and pray for the day when love is the law in every heart and concern for one another erases all fear, and united as one we find peace for all beneath the shadow of God\u2019s wings. I have written the following prayer which I invite you to pray with me. I also invite you to reach out to your Muslim friends and colleagues and tell them we are praying for their community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Prayer on the Ides of March 2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The heart of humanity aches this day There are times when a crime defies any rhyme O God, we all do when in one way or another O let the rain fall down and the thunder sound In this spirit we pray for all who grieve We pray for this world. Grace and Peace,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We woke up today to the horrific news of shootings in two mosques in Christ Church, New Zealand in which at least 49 people were killed during Friday prayers. These terrorist acts are evil and as Christians we must stand in solidarity with any group of people whether religious or not who come under such […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":255,"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254\/revisions\/255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yorkminsterpark.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nfor those who only went to pray
\nto God in their week\u2019s most sacred hour
\nto be gunned down by a malevolent power<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nor reason apart from what it is in a word
\nSin! But who let it in?
\nHate! And who took its poison bait?
\nEvil! Who listened to that Devil? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nwe close ourselves to the sister or brother
\nand even the Christ in a stranger\u2019s guise
\nand look instead through fearful hateful eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nand remind us we\u2019re on holy ground.
\nWash away all pride from deep within
\nlet the burning bush consume all sin
\ncleanse our soul and unite our hearts
\nand give this world a fresh new start
\nthat all might sense your grace
\nwithout regard for creed or race
\nand see you smile on every face.
\nFor you O God are love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nfor loved ones lost so suddenly and senselessly.
\nMay they hear in the midst of the storm
\nyour still small voice of calm.
\nWe pray for those wounded too,
\nfor medical teams and first to the scenes,
\nTo the nation of New Zealand and the people of Islam
\nbring a peace that passes not away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nO God, let there be light all through this night
\nGive love the last word and make things right.
\nMay your kingdom come and your will be done
\non earth as it is in heaven.
\nFor you O God, are love.
\nAmen.
\n JPH 15-03-19 <\/p>\n\n\n\n