{"id":1466,"date":"2016-07-08T14:07:28","date_gmt":"2016-07-08T19:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=1466"},"modified":"2016-07-08T14:30:36","modified_gmt":"2016-07-08T19:30:36","slug":"together-grieve-church-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/together-grieve-church-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Together we grieve with our church and nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dear friend,<\/p>\n

The refrain, \u201cLord, listen to your children praying\u201d resounded during the July 8 ELCA Service of Prayer and Lamentation<\/a>.\u00a0 Organized as an opportunity to mourn together following the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, the service moved to include grief over police officers targeted by snipers at a peaceful demonstration in Dallas, which ended in five dead and six more wounded. Lord have mercy.<\/p>\n

Today, all of our ELCA Advocacy staff grieve with our church and nation for this tragic loss of life, the repeated reminders of the wounds of racism, fear and injustice and our own complicity in their infliction<\/strong>. Bishop Eaton has called on ELCA ministries and members to be present in our communities in the wake of this and any violence; to accompany protesters, law enforcement, and any who are frightened, despairing or searching for hope. The Gospel calls us to be present, to show up in the places of pain. Here, under the shadow of the cross, is where Jesus promises he will meet us to be present with us through mercy, hope and transformation to new life.<\/p>\n

ELCA Advocacy offers resources and guidance for our church to tend to the wounds of our neighbor and society by taking action to address racism, reduce violence and build healthy, safe and resilient communities through public policy advocacy. In addition to serving our neighbors by addressing hunger and poverty, we invite you to take part in opportunities listed below to make your voice heard on violence and racism.<\/p>\n