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Giving Thanks for Hope in Uncertain Times on Nov. 19

While still recovering from October’s shock of 59 dead and hundreds wounded in Las Vegas, we’re reeling this month from the atrocity in Manhattan and now the Texas church assault that left 26 dead and 20 wounded. Plus, in December we’re commemorating the fifth anniversary of our own state’s nightmare of the school-shooting rampage in Newtown.

The book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible describes the rhythms of life: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak…”

There is indeed a time for silence and prayer, but there is also a time to act, to collectively speak to our state and federal representatives. If other countries—from England to Australia—can successfully reduce gun deaths through sensible legislation, so can we.

Therefore, at our Interfaith “Thanks and Giving” service themed “Giving Thanks for Hope in Uncertain Times” on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. hosted by St. George Catholic Church on the Guilford Green, we’ll have a document available for all attendees to add their signatures to our own. It will be a call to action to our state’s legislators.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister in Germany during World War II, wrote, “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” We want to speak and act in ways that leave a common sense, godly and humane heritage for our communities.

The Guilford-Madison Interface Clergy Group is represented by Rev. Ginger Brasher-Cunningham, Rev. Judith M. Cooke, Rev. Jeanette C. Hicks, Rev. James H. Latimer, PCC, Rev. Jeanne Lloyd, Hazzan Kevin A. Margolius, Rabbi Stacy K. Offner, Rev. Maureen Peitler-Lederman, Pastor John Reichart, Fr. Stephen Sledesky, Rev. Dr. Lynda Z. Tyson, Rev. Sarah J. Verasco, Rev. Todd C. Vetter, and Rev. R. Harrison West.