‘Everyone Welcome’—Even Now

Do take a few moments and read this column in Newsweek by my colleague, Rev. Chris Buice, minister of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. A few months ago, this congregation experienced a tragedy when a gunman shot eight people killing two during a service.

You can read posts about it here.

Chris writes:

After a senseless act of violence in our church, we did not give in to anger. We sought a better way.

This is the spirit of true religion. Here is the article:

"Shall we meet hate with hate?" that has been a recurring question throughout history and, recently, a personal one for me. On a Sunday morning last July, a man walked into the sanctuary of my church, took a shotgun out of a guitar case and opened fire on a room of unarmed men, women and children. Two precious people, Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger, lost their lives. Six others were injured. Our entire community was traumatized....

....Members of my congregation have been hurt. But we have also been healed by the feeling that there is a love greater than our theological differences, a compassion that is not limited by the boundaries of any creed. I firmly believe, now more than ever, that love is stronger than death. Love is more powerful than hate.

(Read the rest of the article)

What a powerful witness and presence for peace this congregation has for all of us.