Advent Hope in the Dark: A Reflection on the Brown Shooting

Dear Friends in Christ,

These shootings have touched me personally. I spent two years as an aspirant for ordination at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Providence, on the Brown campus. Part of my role was with the student ministry, and I remember with joy the student events and meals where we talked about the state of the world, the church, relationships, and God.

My wife’s best friend has a daughter who attends Brown, and she spent the whole evening huddled in the library. Another priest friend (whom we met at St. Stephen’s) has a son who attends.

I’m praying for those whose lives have been lost, those who have been injured, and the whole campus community. Indeed, nearby colleges have cancelled in-person attendance and exams as the shooter is still at large. I’m also praying for college students and parents throughout the country whose safety continues to be elusive—students who carry a burden no one should have to bear.

I’m longing for a day when guns are not so readily accessible to people with serious mental health struggles, or to those whose emotions “snap” under what we all know to be the weight of life. This isn’t a call to eliminate guns. It’s a plea to make our common life safer.

There’s a hymn from the church’s previous hymnal, made widely known through Jesus Christ Superstar. It gives voice to the longing many of us feel in Advent: that despite the terrors of this world, God is at work to set things right. May our lives reflect the dream of God.

Verse 2

Shall crime breed crime forever,

Strength aiding still the strong?

Is it your will, O Father

That we shall toil for wrong?

“No,” say thy mountains; “no,” say thy skies;

The clouded sun shall brightly rise,

And songs be heard, instead of sighs;

God save thy people!

I’m going to send a donation to St. Stephen’s to support their ministry with Brown students. If you would like to join me, you can mail your donation to Trinity Church (60 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801) or give online by clicking here. Please select the miscellaneous donation option in the drop-down menu and add a note in the memo line.

By grace,

Scott +