21 November 2022
Dear Members of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania,
In this week in which we observe our country’s holiday of Thanksgiving gathering around tables with family and friends to celebrate the many gifts that God has given us- a bountiful harvest, loving relationships, the peace and security of belonging- and in a week that unofficially opens the “holiday season” of joy and gladness, I am grateful for all of the gifts in my life, but I am also keenly aware of the emptiness, grief and loss that many experience because of the multiple mass shootings that have occurred in recent days. In the past week in our country, 15 people have died in mass shootings, and another 47 have been injured. (www.gunviolencearchive.org)
These tragedies have taken place on university campuses, in private homes, at festive bonfires, and in nightclubs. The victims include student athletes, innocent party-goers, parents of young children, and members of the LGBTQ community. Three of those who were killed were children: aged 13, 4, and 4. Lord, have mercy.
The epidemic of gun violence continues apace in our country. Reading the headlines of our newspapers, day by day, we can see that this epidemic reaches into all corners of our society. Some of those who died this week were pursued by the shooters because of their relationships or achievements, others were targeted because of their sexual identity, and some were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The shooters in some of the eight incidents in the last week used assault rifles- AK 47s and AR 15s.
I have added the names of those who died this week to my prayer list, and I invite you to do the same: Daniel, Derrick, Unnamed, Unnamed, Unnamed, Christopher, Jayson, Kinsey, Kaelyn, JoAnna, Devin, Lavel, D’Sean, Karly, Cierra. I pray for the repose of their souls and for the comfort and consolation of their families and friends. I also pray for those who have been identified as the shooters in (some of) these incidents: Jonah, Anderson, Christopher, Tyvel.
In our diocese, we have a group working to educate, organize, advocate, and pray for the end of gun violence. Since last May when our country was shaken by the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, that killed 19 children and two adults, we have gathered monthly on Zoom to support the work of reducing gun violence in our country. Under the leadership of The Rev. Jennifer Mattson, St. Thomas, Lancaster, and with the support of Mr. Bryan Miller of “Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence,” we have been living out our baptismal call to “persevere in resisting evil… and to strive for justice and peace.” (BCP pg. 304-5). We would welcome additions to our group and its focus areas: prayer, legislative lobbying and advocacy, public witness, and care for children and teens. Please email my assistant, Nichol Free, if you would like to be part of this group: nfree@diocesecpa.org.
As we enter into the time of year that is at its darkest, I pray that we will not lose hope or lose sight of the light that is the hope of the nations- salvation in Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah gives us words as we await the coming of our Lord: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). May these words strengthen us.
With hope and zeal for our work together in the Way of Love,
The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan
XI Bishop
