On Tuesday, November 30th, we received the heartbreaking news of another school shooting. This time though, it was in our backyard—Oxford, Michigan. Like so many of you, we watched with broken hearts as news came in of the lives taken and many others injured. One video that went viral was particularly unnerving as students in a classroom had to make the life and death decision of whether or not the person knocking on their door was really a sheriff or a fellow-student seeking to take their life. This is not how it is supposed to be. Gun violence and the senseless taking of life among our youth have now touched countless communities across our nation.

Last night, we received word that all APPS schools will be closed today and YCS Community High School would move to remote learning due to reports of violence circulating on social media. This is not just in our backyard, this now touches the very schools we send our children to each day. We are thankful for the AAPS and YCS administrators and teachers helping families and children navigate this time. We are also thankful for our local law enforcement who are looking into these threats and working diligently to keep our community safe. In this scary and uncertain moment, we commit ourselves to pray for wisdom and discernment as they make difficult and consequential decisions that touch the lives of so many people in our community.

As a church, we are grieved by the violence that took place in Oxford and that now is being threatened in our community and surrounding ones. We must not neglect to pray for the families who lost children, for the students injured, and all the students who are trying to make sense of the horror they just experienced. Sending our children to school should not be accompanied by fearing for their lives. Our schools should not only be a safe place but a place filled with opportunities to learn and grow. To this end, we call upon our local, state, and national leaders to do everything they can to ensure safety in our schools and commit to pray for them as they seek to do so.

Our faith teaches us not to be surprised by the darkness and the violence that so often encompasses us. It gives us the courage to not only act in the face of such violence, but it also reminds us of our greatest need and where we can find hope in the midst of tragedy. In our fear-filled moments, darkened by the sense of helplessness and uncertainty, there is a place to turn for refuge. This is not a distraction from the conversation or a crutch for the weak. In Psalm 46, we find these comforting words:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. - Psalm 46:1–3

It is true that we need more than thoughts and prayers to address the tragedy of gun violence in our schools. However, we must not miss the comfort found in knowing God is near the brokenhearted and welcomes us to come to him when engulfed in fear. At Christmas, we celebrate the good news that God took on human flesh and dwelt among us in Jesus Christ. Jesus is truly Emmanuel, God with us. This is such good news because not only did God come to be with us but He came for us, to rescue us from our brokenness and sin. Jesus was like us in every way, but without sin. He was acquainted with grief and even called a man of sorrows. He faced senseless violence at the hand of his peers. We can draw near to him in this moment and find grace to help in our time of need. The Bible describes what Jesus did for us in this way: He who knew no sin became sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Perhaps, even through tear-filled eyes over what we are experiencing in our community, we may see our need for Him and take refuge in Him.

As our community processes all of this today and in the weeks to come, we commit to not only pray but also to open our arms to our community. If you need help processing through this personally or with your kids, please know that we are available to talk with you. If you are burdened and wearied by all of this, we are available to pray with you. We do not have all the answers and our lives aren’t all put together, but we know the One who holds all things together and invites us to find refuge in Him. At Treasuring Christ Church, we often say the church isn’t like a family, it is family. In moments of sorrow and fear, family shows up for one another. We not only want to be there for one another, but we also want to be there for our community.

Know you’re not alone!

The Pastors at TCC