Southminster Presbyterian Church

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors to the north in Kirkwood today, following the shooting of 6 people at a city council meeting last night.

 

It is saddening to realize that these sorts of things are happening on a near-daily basis (in fact, another shooting happened in Louisiana today).  But it changes entirely when it happens in your hometown, or the place you grew up, or to people you work with, live with, went to school with.

 

Here at Southminster, about a dozen of our members live in Kirkwood.  About a quarter of our congregation grew up in Kirkwood, and over half of our congregation has some sort of personal connection to the people involved last night.  This is as much a tragedy for us as it is for anyone else in the area.  And, like those in Kirkwood, we find ourselves sorrowful, confused, disoriented, shaken.

 

Where else do we feel a greater sense of personal safety and security than in our hometown?  How much does that sense of safety and security increase in a place like city hall?  Other than our own homes or in our own church, is there anywhere we are more likely to feel safe and secure?  When our "security zone" is violated, we find ourselves feeling confused and shaken.  Where do we go to find some comfort?  Some peace in the midst of this confusion?

 

I can think of no better words than those of David, as offered in Psalm 23:

May we all seek to find comfort from knowing that, even in the midst of the greatest hurt and confusion life may offer us, God is with us and weeps along side us.

 

If you have need for prayer, comfort or even an ear to listen, don't hesitate to give the pastors a call.