We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed….
2 Corinthians 4
God, whose presence we yearn toward in the stillness after our shaken, broken voices and the fires of violence fall silent: we have no words left.
The words others have said: “horrific” “worst” “unspeakable” “impossible”
have been spoken so many times that we can no longer hear them.
Our hearts have broken so often, we cannot feel.
Our hope has been tried, and, we confess in sorrow,
has been found wanting.
There has been too much terror, and not enough answers
too many lost lives with too little time to grieve them all
too much violation of the ordinary and not enough glimpse of the holy to hold us fast.
But You, oh God: beyond our words, beneath our hope:
be the creative breath that orders our chaos
the mercy and justice that compels us to action
the Love that is stronger than death.
We ask you again, for we have nowhere else to turn—
Hold us fast, when we cannot hold on any longer.
Walk with us through the valley of the shadow
Turn us away from despair, that we may not grow weary in well-doing
Triune God, grant us liberté, égalité, fraternité:
…the liberty of your love that conquers fear and evil
…the mind of your Son, who did not consider equality with You a thing to be exploited, but emptied himself
…the fraternity of your Spirit, beyond our divisions, to bind us together as one family in your kindom of mercy and peace. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. Laurie A Kraus
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/lament-wake-bastille-day-terror-attack-nice/
About rexespiritu
me.espiritu.net
Pastor Rex
The Rev. Rex Espiritu is a teaching elder in the Presbytery of Whitewater Valley where he has served as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in New Castle, Indiana, as pastor at Winchester—First Presbyterian Church and transition pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Portland. As a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he is passionate toward effecting congregational transformation for the renewal of communities through missional leadership. As a student who continually enjoys learning anew, Pastor Espiritu is excited to have taken part in the inaugural fellowship of the Wabash Pastoral Leadership Program sponsored by the Lilly Endowment.
Prior to graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, Rex Espiritu served as an Elder and worship leader for Sunday evening services of prayer and praise at Mount Lebanon United Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania where he was ordained by Pittsburgh Presbytery. Rex has grown up in the PCUSA as a musician, vocalist, composer, arranger and director. During and following his graduation from seminary, he was the Associate Director of Music and also did his field education and later served on the pastoral staff at Faith Church, a suburban congregation in southern New Jersey near Philadelphia.
Rev. Espiritu's faith in Christ was shaped early on during his younger years when he received Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon, New York, a multicultural congregation within a predominately African-American community in the greater New York City metropolitan area. A classically trained pianist, Pastor Rex has led worship in various settings for contemporary, traditional, and blended services. He has experience in various venues, both large and small, leading denominational/ecumenical gatherings of worshippers at churches, retreats, seminars and conferences nationwide.
Pastor Rex Espiritu’s varied background in pastoral ministry includes being a committed intercessor, leading mission teams abroad, administering pastoral care, serving as Stephen Ministries leader and hospital chaplain. He is also a seasoned business professional who holds a B.S. in computer science from Columbia University with supervisory and senior engineering corporate experience in software development, network management and systems administration at Logica Carnegie Group, and General Electric for NBC News. Rex and his late wife Melissa have six children, and now five grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his delightful and talented family.
The Espiritu's 