Yesterday, another shooting took place in our community. Pastor Charlie, Mr. Norman, and I all heard the shots go off nearby on the 3900 block of St. Claude. The victim was shot in the leg and did not make it far before collapsing in front of Nikki’s, the corner store on Alvar and St. Claude right across from Douglass High. Out-of-town volunteers  who were painting the front of the school  became unexpected witnesses of a violent crime. Students and teachers trying to have class became distracted by the disturbing scene taking place outside their classroom window. People gathered in the street, and one Douglass teacher, in desperation, held his hand over the victim’s wound in order to hold off the bleeding until the ambulance arrived.  School let out soon after the shooting, and the Douglass students were welcomed by a crime scene as they filtered out in to the street. One of our own youth questioned, “Why do they keep shooting people?”  I heard adults exclaim in defeat, “I don’t understand,” and “Why does this keep happening?”  Honestly, with eleven murders in our neighborhood this year, I’ve been asking myself the same questions.

On Sunday, I shared with the congregation something I witnessed in the children’s Sunday School class that morning. The children spent the first part of the class praying for peace in our community.  One of the children wisely prayed for God to “please help the people who are turning to violence to find the better way of your love.” Life without the hope of the better way of Christ’s love is at the very root of the violence in our community. Last Sunday I challenged the congregation to take a few extra minutes and drive through some of the streets in our neighborhood on their way home and to pray for those who are turning to violence. I would like to extend that challenge by asking for you to take the time to drive and pray through a couple of the streets every week either before or after church.  Remember, the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.  Please be listening for other ways you can get involved in helping Grace do its part in bringing peace to our community.