Responding to Gun Violence: A Moment of Blessing from Esperanza

Reclaiming Sites of Violence: Bringing Hope and Healing to Neighborhoods

The Reverend Ruben Ortiz, Director of National Programs for Esperanza (https://www.esperanza.us/ ) represents Hispanic Clergy on the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia. Recently he shared Moment of Blessing with his colleagues on the Council. For more than 20 years, Moment of Blessing has been used to offer solace and hope for families and neighbors living near the location of homicides. Religious leaders bring together those affected at the location desecrated by violence. They lead the community in prayer, adding readings as well as words of comfort and hope. The location is blessed; Divine comfort and love overpowering the fear and grief connected to that place. Moment of Blessing may be used as is or adapted so it is appropriate for the religious traditions and emotional needs of those who gather.

 

Moment of Blessing - Occasion of Homicide 

GREETING 

Grace and Peace to all of us in the name of our Loving God. We stand on holy ground – for God is with us, doing what God always does, calling forth life, especially here, especially now. Immanuel is the God who is with us always and everywhere! There is nowhere we can flee God’s presence and nothing can separate us from God’s love – not tragedy, not violence not even death. This is why we are reclaiming this space as a place of life, community, hope and forgiveness. Yes, even the violence that has occurred here is being reclaimed in love, and called forth as holy witness to life itself.

DECLARATION 

We come together in this space and at this time of grief, acknowledging the violent act committed against our [sister(s)/brother(s)] ___________ .

We confess that this tragedy is part of a wider failure to create safe communities that are humane, compassionate, just, and filled with dignity and hope for all.

PRAYER 

We ask that God may grant us peace.
That in our pain we may find comfort,
That in our confusion we may find a measure of understanding,
That in our anger we may find forgiveness,
That in our sorrow we may find hope,
That in the aftermath of fear we may find strength and healing.
Come Holy Spirit and baptize us again in the sea of your love, where we release our useless fears and relax into your mercy. Inside this new love
we die to all that is false. By your power made perfect in weakness,
awaken us to the mystery of life and speak to us again the truth of our
deepest identity hidden in you. “You are my child whom I love with you
I am well pleased.”

PSALM 23

LEADER The Lord is my Shepherd.

ALL I shall not want.

LEADER The Lord makes me lie down in greenpastures.

ALL The Lord leads me beside still waters.

LEADER The Lord restores my soul.

ALL The Lord guides me in right paths.

LEADER Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ALL I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and staff give me courage.

MATTHEW 5

LEADER Blessed are the poor in spirit.

ALL For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

LEADER Blessed are those who mourn.

ALL For they will be comforted.

LEADER Blessed are the meek.

ALL For they shall inherit the earth.

LEADER Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness 

ALL For they shall be satisfied.

LEADER Blessed are the merciful.

ALL For they shall obtain mercy.

LEADER Blessed are the pure in heart.

ALL For they shall see God.

LEADER Blessed are the peacemakers.

ALL For they shall be called children of God.

LEADER Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. ALL For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


A TIME OF SHARING
What are we seeing, hearing, and feeling in this moment?

(Participants may share briefly – otherwise, a moment of silence is appropriate.)

AFFIRMATION OF SIGHT

[Sister/Brother] , we see you. We acknowledge your death and your life. You did not leave this world unnoticed. We hold your memory in our love and care, affirm that your life was and is treasured by God.


LITANY OF DELIVERANCE

LEADER: From the prevalence of sexual assault...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the ravages of drug and alcohol addiction...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the hopelessness of suicide...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the brutality of murder and violence...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the corruption of senseless death...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the ways human dignity is stripped...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the bitterness of homelessness and empty pockets... 

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the snare of mental illness and discrimination...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the silence of apathy and neglect...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the deserts of ignorance and suffering...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: From the arrogance of racism and despair...

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: And from all evil …

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: And from all evil…

ALL: Save us, O God

LEADER: And from all evil…

ALL: Save us, O God. Amen.

(SONG)

JESUS, NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES

(English)

Jesus, Name above all Names

Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord
Emmanuel, God is with us
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word

(Espanol)
Cristo, Nombre Mas Alto;
Salvador Nuestro, Glorioso Señor
Emmanuel, Dios Con Nosotros;
Pan De La Vida, Cordero De Dios

ISAIAH 61:1-4

(ADAPTED)

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated. They will renew the cities that have been devastated for generations.


PRAYER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD

LEADER You are the God who has set us in families and clans and tribes, in communities and in cities. We give you thanks this day that you are Lord of the city of and Lord of this very neighborhood.

LEADER We pray for the city of today, and we pray for this neighborhood... and for neighborhoods like it in Jerusalem, Baghdad, Moscow, and a thousand other villages in your cities around the world. In all of our cities this day... there will be violence and crime and also compassion and forgiveness and generosity, and leaders who work for both justice and injustice.

ALL Be our God this day and prosper in the city of . We pray in the name of the One who wept over the city. Amen.


RECLAIMING RITUAL —

LEADER We come together this day to reclaim this space of death as a place of life. This place where violence occurred we are reclaiming as a place of peace. This place that causesfear, anger, and pain, we are reclaiming as a place of hope and community. We reclaim the humanity of both victim and victimizer in God’s name.

BLESSING OF THE WATER  

(WATER IS SPRINKLED ON THOSE PRESENT)

Leader: Come, Holy Spirit, to this place. As we sprinkle this water, come Holy Spirit, and redeem this space and people from the pain and violence that occurred here. Return it as a safe place, a place of love, a place of life, a place of hope. Amen.

ALL That which was taken away from us by violence, we reclaim as a place of life, community, and hope. We pledge to work toward a world free from violence and self-destruction and full of love and hope. We commit ourselves to building community that is humane, compassionate, just, and filled with dignity.


BLESSING OF SURVIVORS

PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LAY HANDS ON SURVIVORS.

Christ be with you, Christ within you, Christ behind you, Christ before you,

Christ beside you, Christ to win you,

Christ to comfort and restore you,

Christ beneath you, Christ above you,

Christ in quiet and in danger,

Christ in hearts of those who love you,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

NEIGHBORHOOD BLESSING  

LEADER: What is a blessing but a rain of grace falling generously into the lives of those in need; and what neighborhood in this city is without need?

ALL: God, we ask your blessing on this neighborhood.

LEADER: May the Spirit touch in this morning pause. May this day provide a pathway filled with hope and renewal. May there be work here today that is God’s love made visible.

ALL: God, we ask your blessing on this neighborhood.

LEADER: May a heart of grace and benevolence be born here today.And may that birth bless each person in this community with hope for the future.

ALL: God, we ask your blessing on this neighborhood.

LEADER: May the resurrection be experienced in today. As old enemies are moved toward reconciliation, exclusion becomes embrace, and as voices of criticism and hate are transformed into encouragement.

ALL: God, we ask your blessing on this neighborhood.

LEADER: May greed and excess dissolve into the soil of community gardens where neighbors and families share meals together and where children are free to play and explore their curiosities.

ALL: God, we ask your blessing on this neighborhood.

LEADER: God, breathe upon so when the people look in the mirror, they may see themselves as they truly are… a beautiful reflection of You.

ALL: God, we ask your blessing on this neighborhood. Amen


BENEDICTION 

LEADER
Our service is ended. As we leave this place, our prayer is that each of us might act in some way to uphold the dignity of every person – so that all would see that violence will not prevail in our community and peace will endure.

Beloved of God, may we go on our way with the courage to love. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted. Support the weak. Love one another as God loves you. As this is home to the trauma and healing of our [sister(s)/brother(s)] , it is also home to God. God blesses both this space and (Victim's name).

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us because we have been anointed to announce good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to declare the year of the Lord’s favor.

We pray all of this in the name of the Father who is for us, the Son who is with us, and the Spirit who unites us all in the never-ending dance of love. Amen.

ALL

Thanks be to God.