Prayers for Pittsburgh

Last Sunday, as the afternoon sun shone through the Tree of life stained glass window in the Life Center, we who had gathered for worship remembered those who had also gathered for worship at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and we mourned for the eleven who were gunned down in their holy house. Our hearts reach out to our Jewish brothers and sisters and all of those who are grieving, who are scared, or angry, and we are called to rise up and resist evil with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  We are called to confront the hate within and without that is overtaking our land.  We pray for an outpouring of compassion and love to overwhelm the violence and hate which festers, destroys, and kills. There were many remembrances and vigils which took place locally as wells around the world.  Nancy Splain, our Interfaith Outreach Ambassador, who attended the vigil at Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center Tuesday night shared that there were several hundred in attendance and over thirty clergy as well. It was a powerful call to civility, respect and speaking up whenever any are marginalized whether Jew, Sikh, migrant, immigrant, refugee, Black, LGBTQ,regardless of religious faith or ethnicity. An attack on one faith community is an attack on all faith communities.We stand together.  We are stronger than hate.  Here at the campus we recommitted to live out Our Promise: to welcome all people including outreach to Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and others faiths, as well as those with no connection to a faith community.  We value the diversity of all regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin,disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.  Recognizing that we have work to do we have formed a Diversity and Inclusion Action Council made of residents and staff committed to this work and we welcome your thoughts, your prayers, and your participation.  This community will continue to be a voice of love and inclusion and our deeply divided and troubled world needs that now more than ever until the day when there are no more Pittsburgh's, or Orlando's, or Ferguson's, Las Vegas's, or Sandy Hook's.*Last Sunday, as the afternoon sun shone through the Tree of Life stained glass window in the Life Center, we who had gathered for worship remembered those who had also gathered for worship at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and we mourned for the eleven who were gunned down in their holy house. Our hearts reach out to our Jewish brothers and sisters and all of those who are grieving, who are scared, or angry, and we are called to rise up and resist evil with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are called to confront the hate within and without that is overtaking our land. We pray for an outpouring of compassion and love to overwhelm the violence and hate which festers, destroys, and kills. There were many remembrances and vigils which took place locally as well as around the world. Nancy Splain, our Interfaith Outreach Ambassador, who attended the vigil at Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center Tuesday nite shared that there were several hundred in attendance and over thirty clergy as well. It was a powerful call to civility, respect and speaking up whenever any are marginalized whether Jew, Sikh, migrant, immigrant, refugee, Black, LGBTQ, regardless of religious faith or ethnicity. An attack on one faith community is an attack on all faith communities. We stand together. We are stronger than hate. Here at the campus we are committed to live out Our Promise: to welcome all people including outreach to Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and others faiths, as well as those with no connection to a faith community. We value the diversity of all regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation. Recognizing that we have work to do we have formed a Diversity and Inclusion Action Council made of residents and staff committed to this work and we welcome your thoughts, your prayers, and your participation. This community will continue to be a voice of love and inclusion and our deeply divided and troubled world needs that now more than ever until the day when there are no more Pittsburgh's, or Orlando's, or Ferguson's, Las Vegas's, or Sandy Hook's.*

Author Info: Peggy Roberts

Chaplain Peggy Roberts is Vice President of the Spiritual Life Department here at beatitudes. Peggy was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served in pastoral ministry as well as being a hospice chaplain.