03/13/2026
A message from The Rev. Dr. Niklaus C. Schillack
Pray, Learn, Love: Our Response to Yesterday’s Events at Temple Israel
https://conta.cc/4cLRuAL
Dear People of Beautiful Savior,
Yesterday was a disturbing day for our community, and especially for our Jewish neighbors. People we know and love, including some of you reading this message, had to shelter in place while the events at Temple Israel unfolded. It was a stark reminder that international conflict is not something that happens “over there.” We are all part of the same world that seems to be on fire all too often.
Times like these can lead to fear, confusion, and greater distrust of other people. They can lead us to our worst impulses, which is exactly what evil wants. That is why it is good for us to turn to Scripture.
Psalm 34:14 reminds us:
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
These words teach us that peace is not something that simply appears on its own. Peace must be sought. Peace must be pursued. It requires all people—neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and communities of faith—to resist the pull toward suspicion and hatred and instead seek compassion and pursue understanding.
Terrorism, and all evil for that matter, seeks to divide people, to make neighbors fear one another, and to convince us that violence and distrust are inevitable. God calls us to pursue the opposite path. Scripture teaches us to resist evil not with bitterness or vengeance, but with courage, kindness, and a commitment to peace. Peace is not optional for Christians. It is part of the calling God gives to all who seek to walk in God’s ways. So what does that look like for us as followers of Jesus?
What Can We Do?
Moments like this can leave us wondering what difference any of us can make. Scripture’s call to “seek peace and pursue it” reminds us that peace is built through many small, faithful actions. Here are a few ways we can respond:
Pray
Pray for the members of Temple Israel and for all who were frightened and traumatized by yesterday’s events. Give thanks that no innocent people lost their lives, and that the many children in the learning center were safely brought out of harm’s way. Pray for those who are still processing fear and shock, and ask God to surround them with comfort and peace. Pray for our wider community, that God would guard us from hatred, suspicion, and violence, and strengthen all who work for justice and peace. Let us also pray for those who seek to do harm, that God would soften their hearts and guide them to love rather than hate.
Learn
Fear often grows where understanding is lacking. Our community is home to the Zekelman Holocaust Center, which teaches the history and dangers of antisemitism, and we are blessed to live alongside many Jewish neighbors. We can listen to them, learn from their experiences, and allow them to guide us in how best to show support. Christians can also read the Book of Esther, which tells of a time when hatred nearly led to the destruction of the Jewish people and reminds us why such hatred must always be resisted.
Love
Scripture does not command us to like everyone, but it does command us to love our neighbors. We do not have to like one another, but we do have to love one another. Hatred is unoriginal. In many ways, it is simply lazy. It refuses the hard work of understanding people as they really are, as it can confuse innocent children in a Jewish daycare with a war being fought half a world away. Hatred does not build anything new or create anything good. It only tears down and destroys. Love, by contrast, builds trust, restores hope, and refuses to let fear or violence have the final say. Love has teeth; hatred is a coward.
As we pray for our Jewish neighbors, moments like this can also raise understandable concerns about safety in all places of worship. Beautiful Savior takes the safety and security of our congregation very seriously. While no system can guarantee absolute safety, we do have measures in place, some visible and some intentionally less visible, designed to protect our community while preserving the spirit of hospitality that defines who we are.
I welcome your concerns and ideas about how we might strengthen these efforts. There are ways to do so without losing the warmth and openness that are central to our identity as a congregation. Some additional measures will require resources, and I am glad to discuss those plans with you in private conversations if you wish. And if recent events have left you feeling worried or unsettled, please know you are always welcome to share those concerns with me. We are a community that cares for one another and walks through moments like this as one people.
Sincerely, in Christ’s Service,
Pastor Nik
Email from Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (248) 646-5041 bslcmi.org [email protected] Dear People of Beautiful Savior, Yesterday was a disturbing day for our commu
