More impressive—and far more courageous—than any of the predictable, crass attempts at politicizing the Colorado shooting (a project now being joined , unfortunately, by some religious voices), is this rather remarkable act :
Colorado Community Church will host [church member Gordon] Cowden’s funeral later this week.
“When it appears that there’s no hope and no peace . . . we come to you,” prayed song leader Chris Lang.
Pastor Robert Gelinas started Sunday’s service by asking how many in attendance were personally impacted by the tragedy. More than a dozen hands went up. In the aisles and pews, fellow worshipers huddled around those suffering the most.
“As we put our hands on their shoulders, let the spirit draw near and be closer to them than they ever imagined,” he said above loud sobs.
Rev. Gelinas had another request which he admitted was, “not going to be easy.” He asked his flock to pray for the alleged gunman, James Holmes, and his family.
“Only God is the righteous judge,” he said. “Only God knows how to blend justice and mercy and grace in perfect balance.”
(article via Sarah Pulliam Bailey )
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
The Church in the Age of Therapy
In 1966, Philip Rieff wrote in The Triumph of the Therapeutic that “Religious man was born to…
Canada’s Deadliest Blind Spot
On September 20, the Daily Mail ran a story with the provocative headline, “Our 83-year-old Christian grandmother…
The Faithful Joy of Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen
Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen seem to have had little in common. She favored rhinestones; he wore…
