10/16/2026
How long, O God? How long?
We grieve with the families and community of Bend, Oregon, where three children and a teacher were killed in a school shooting.
We grieve for those whose lives have been forever changed, for the wounded, for the children who witnessed unimaginable violence, and for the families who sent loved ones to school expecting them to return home safely.
And we grieve for communities across our nation where gun violence continues to claim lives and leave families shattered.
As people of faith, we pray. But we are also called to act.
Our prayers must move us toward compassion, advocacy, and a renewed commitment to creating communities where every child, every neighbor, and every life is valued and protected.
God of mercy, receive our grief. Comfort those who mourn. Heal those who suffer. Give us the courage to work for a world where violence no longer steals the promise of tomorrow. Amen.
