Response to school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is reaching out to the community of Newtown, Connecticut, and praying for those impacted by the school shooting.
Members of the National Response Team (NRT) attended Sunday morning worship services in local churches to be a presence of care and to especially help with the youth. They also participated in the ecumenical worship service where President Obama spoke and are working with various churches and the Newtown ministerial group to help with emotional and spiritual care.
Nearby Presbyterian Churches include Valley Presbyterian Church in Brookfield and First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Rev. Adele Crawford of the Valley Presbyterian Church shared, “I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for the team you sent in Kate, Suzanne, John and Bob. They arrived in Connecticut just about 24 hours after news of the tragedy began to surface. All of us at Valley Presbyterian Church-Brookfield are ever so thankful, as is our whole community. May God continue to bless you all in your work around the globe.
We ask that you join with us in holding the people of Newtown, their families and loved ones, and all who grieve in your thoughts and prayers.
What You Can Do
Prayer is our best response. Please pray for the people of Newtown, their families and loved ones, and for all those who grieve - that the peace of Christ will overcome the shadow of death, and that the love of God will comfort them. Consider including the Hymn God We Have Heard It in your worship service.
As you reflect on this tragedy, please consider helping your community become more aware of the ripple effect of gun violence by holding a screening of the documentary Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence.
Resources
Faithful Caring for Children: Responding to Affects of Trauma in Children
Two members of the PDA National Response Team have developed Strategies for Pastors Concerning Children’s Messages for the Sunday after a Shooting.
In the Aftermath of Two Mass Shootings This Week, Presbyterian News Story by Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine
God We Have Heard It – hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
