From Your Minister

At 1:30 in the morning I received a text from my son, Andrew, who lives in Las Vegas. His flight was delayed going back home, and he wanted me to know that he was okay. He had considered attending the concert at which the massacre occurred. But he didn’t go – he was safe. That was my first inkling of the tragedy that has unfolded this week. While I am extremely grateful for his safety, this close brush in my own family has left me raw and saddened by every single story I read of a family who has lost a loved one to this terrible tragedy. We must pray for all of these people – we must open our hearts and realize the depth of their sorrow. And yet…. and yet that is not enough. For any of us.

I realize that as a relative newcomer to Massachusetts, I do not know the local history of how First Parish has discussed issues around gun violence. I would like to learn about our state laws, our local protections, our statistics, and keep in mind our role on the Battle Green where guns were first used in protest of British rule. If you would like to help me organize a forum, stage a protest, or simply engage in discussion around these volatile and important topics, I do hope you will contact me directly. I believe that we are a moral force for good in Lexington, and I want to use our voice in service of what is right and what is just. What happened in Las Vegas was a tragedy. Even more of a tragedy is that unrestricted access to weapons means this could happen again.