There are many around the world suffering from senseless violence. Here in Portland, Oregon we have lost people needlessly as well. I wrote this call to worship last week, after 3 men were stabbed for rising to the defense of 2 teenage girls on a train who were being verbally assaulted. Thanks to Cedar Mill Bible Church for giving me the opportunity to deliver this call today:

We are not innocent

we are not guilty

what we are

is Sad

(have you heard of the discovery of a new shade of blue?)

we are sad for the city, we are sad for the children

we are sad for two teenage girls on a train

just kids

and we all lost something when hate screamed and then

tore red holes in the world

we are sad that we needed the helpers and heroes

and the temptation is to huddle in the upper room

to say, “Now what Lord?

Now what?

Now what?

This is a new shade of blue.”

When Christ looked at His city, He cried too.

How did the disciples know it was time?

to leave the room and enter the streets?

no speech, no word, no voice was heard

and yet love breathed courage and called them,

Knock on a door

Console

because this is not political

You Know

You Know what is critical here,

a sorrow shared

a universal tongue

a hand outstretched

a hand taken

lives given for one another

we ask God, “How will you heal?

What will you do?”

And He answers, “That, my child, is why I made you.”

—Michelle Winter, 2017