05/20/2026
May 19, 2026
Dear siblings in Christ,
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” – John 16:33
As Christians, called by Christ to love one another, we are devastated when we hear of school and church shootings, like the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting last August. Our faith communities are intended to be sources of comfort and strength, and should never be targets for violence and fear. As such, an attack on one house of worship is an attack on religious freedom
and places of worship everywhere.
Our hearts go out to the families of the three victims of the attack on the Islamic Center and School of San Diego yesterday. We mourn with those who are grieving, and we pray for the healing of the injured and the traumatized. We pray that God’s Holy Spirit will be present with all those whose lives have been permanently changed by fear and hatred. As violence against religious communities rises, we reaffirm our shared commitment to human dignity and to God’s reminder throughout scripture of the sacredness of all life.
We also reaffirm our commitment to interfaith dialogue, – the antidote to hatred – and positive action that moves us toward peace and loving community. I have reached out to local Imams in our St. Paul area clergy group and others who are part of the MN Council of Churches and Lighthouse Clergy network, expressing our support in this time of shock and grief. We extend
our solidarity to our Muslim neighbors and dedicate ourselves to building relationships rooted in compassion, mutual respect and shared humanity. Along with people of all faiths, we pray that one day, we will all be able to join hands as sisters and brothers and enter our houses of worship without fear of harm.
In Christ’s love and peace,
Pastor Dan Streeper
Lead Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church
White Bear Lake, MN