02/14/2023
Dear Sycamore Creek,
Like you, I am heartbroken this morning. Psalm 13 speaks directly to God praying, “How long…How long…How long, O Lord, must I have pain in my heart and sorrow in my soul? Forever?”
I listened to the scanner last night until 11PM, and then decided to go to bed. I woke up this morning to learn that the shooter fled past our neighborhood and died by his own hand not too far from our house, along a stretch of road I drive almost daily. I’m still processing it all.
Perhaps you need a space to process, find support, and pray.
We are offering a campus-wide support and prayer gathering on Zoom tonight at 7PM. You can join at www.sycamorecreekchurch.org/prayer.
We will break into small groups for you to share what you’re experiencing in a safe supportive small group of 3-4 people, and then as a large group, we will write or speak prayers of lament, request, care, etc.
We understand that some of the ecumenical groups in E Lansing are working on a community prayer service tomorrow. We will keep you informed as we know more.
If you are asking yourself, “What can I do?” One thing you can do is attend a webinar that has been scheduled today from 12:15-12:45 on the advocacy that the Michigan Area UMC is participating in related to gun violence. This webinar has been scheduled for weeks, and it’s timing is horribly serendipitous for us all. You can find out more and register here: http://ow.ly/4VrJ50MG3p8.
There will be more opportunities to actively support one another and the campus of MSU and advocate for loving justice in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, join me in praying for all involved:
“Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief” (Psalm 31:9, NIV). My heart is broken, my mind exhausted. I cry out to you and hardly know what to ask. All I can do is tell you how I feel and ask you to “keep track of all my sorrows. . . . [collect] all my tears in your bottle. . . . [and record] each one in your book” as I pour them out to you (Psalm 56:8, NLT). Amen.
Peace,
Pastor Tom Arthur – [email protected]
Pastor Mark – [email protected]
Pastor Michal – [email protected]
Pastor Tom Fox – [email protected]
P.S. If you or someone you know, whether they are connected to Sycamore Creek or not, needs more direct support, don’t hesitate to reach out directly to any of our pastoral staff.
