St. Peter's Response to Recent Political Violence
![St. Peter's Response to Recent Political Violence](https://cdn.monkplatform.com/image/czoxOTk6Imh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZhY2NvdW50LW1lZGlhLnMzLmFtYXpvbmF3cy5jb20lMkYxOTIyNyUyRnVwbG9hZGVkJTJGYSUyRjBlMTgyNjQ5NzhfMTcyMTE2NTY2OV9hLW1lc3NhZ2UtZnJvbS1zdC1wZXRlcnMucG5nJTNGcSUzRDkwJTI2dyUzRDEwMTAlMjZoJTNEMCUyNmZpdCUzRGNyb3AlMjZzJTNENTAxM2ZjNzY0NmY2N2U2NGMxMjY1YWFhNGRlZGMxYzciOw==/a-message-from-st-peters.png)
St. Peter's Response to Recent Political Violence
The following message from St. Peter's Rector, the Rev. David Hodges, was shared with St. Peter's parishioners on Sunday, July 14 in response to the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump which took place near Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
Several years ago, after one of the mass shootings in our country, someone said that we had been plunged into yet another national conversation that rests at the intersection of violence and hatred. In light of the recent assassination attempt of former President Trump that resulted in lives lost and injured, once again we are standing in the intersection of violence and hatred. Sometimes it feels like being there and the uncertainty it produces is becoming a way of life. As we stand together in that intersection, I hope that we as people who follow in the way of Jesus will remember and hold up to others the life-changing love of God that can bring hope and healing to whatever may be broken.
As we try to do that, I commend to you the words of St. Francis of Assisi who said, we have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way. I also invite you to make the first part of the prayer of St. Francis something that you incorporate into your prayers as a way to help shape and inform how we think and act. Lord make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love. When we let the spirit of Christ lead us then we can be instruments of peace and we can do our part to heal wounds and help unite what has fallen apart. May the peace of God which passes all our understanding be in your hearts and minds and God bless you.
David+
Additional Resource for Talking to Children About Political Violence
The following message was shared by Janet Hyde, a St. Peter's parishioner, professor, and psychological scientist with a focus on gun violence. These statements are shared by St. Peter's as a resource for talking with children about the events of July 13.