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Celebrating Easter

A prayer responding to the Nashville Covenant School shooting

Editor Teri McDowell Ott offers a lament in the style of Psalm 13.

This photo provided by the Metro Nashville Police Department shows officers at an active shooter event that took place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Nashville, Tenn. Monday, March 27, 2023. By Metro Nashville Police Department

How long, O Lord? How long must we bear the pain of yet another mass shooting? How long must we lament the killing of school children? How long must guns be exalted over the lives they take? How long must politicians debate common-sense gun laws for this uncommon American problem?

Righteous God, we cannot take this anymore. We stand defiant. We protest in rage. We are sick over our school children hiding beneath their desks, teachers sacrificing their lives to protect, our schools becoming fortresses to keep the evil out.

Give light to our eyes, Holy One, or we will continue to sleep the sleep of this death. Help us find a path to end this madness. Exorcise us of our addiction to guns. Soften the hearts of those who stand in the way of good solutions.

Hold those who grieve and groan, God. Steady our PCA siblings of Covenant Presbyterian in the aftermath of this shooting. Support the families, the teachers, and the administrators as they walk this road, broken and traumatized. Remind them that nothing can separate them from your love.

How long, O Lord? Do not hide your face from us. Intercede in this madness. Change us and restore us to your path of peace.

Amen.

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