Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear….    Psalm 46

 

Jesus weeps… our hearts break… overwhelmed and in shock we grieve.  Those who lost their lives, and those who are wounded, and their families and loved ones – we lift all of them in prayer.  We also lift in prayer Boston’s leaders, our police, fire and safety workers, emergency responders, national guard, and all others who are now engaged in the investigation.  And we lift in prayer our own nearby churches – Old South and Church of the Covenant – may their leaders be given special strength for this time.   And may we have peace in the hours and days and weeks ahead.

 

The people of Massachusetts love the Boston Marathon.  My wife and I were at the bottom of the hill in Hopkinton this morning – watching with wonder and enthusiasm.  We were among the hundreds of thousands here – and tens of millions the world over – who embrace all that this marathon represents.  These heinous acts of violence cannot and will not diminish the good will the marathon will bring in the future.

 

Visit this page  for resources for churches responding to the trauma, and for an update for Old South Church UCC, which is at the Marathon finish line.

 

 Faithfully,

 

Jim