ABOUT

The Gun Violence Prevention Group’s main objectives are:

• ACKNOWLEDGING the need for gun violence prevention
• REMEMBERING those who have lost their lives to gun violence
• ESTABLISHING a viable community outreach program, including working on sensible gun laws with our General Assembly. With this, we want to orchestrate change for a better, safer society.

The regular schedule is to meet at Reveille’s bell tower on the lawn outside of the youth center every Monday at 1:00 pm. The group will gather to say a prayer, call the names of deceased victims of recent gun violence in the City of Richmond, and ring the bell after each name is called. Everyone is invited to join any Monday for this reverent and moving experience. In the future, we hope to expand and offer bell ringing on one Saturday each month and include victims’ names from surrounding areas.

The bell ringing for victims of gun violence began in downtown Richmond, Virginia at Second Presbyterian Church and is also practiced at Ginter Park Presbyterian. The group is hoping to expand bell ringing to churches neighboring Reveille to produce a resounding sound with all the bells simultaneously ringing for a single message and impact.

The group is also exploring ways to incorporate awareness of gun violence into worship services and possibly creating a prayer wall.

WEEKLY PRAYER

Merciful Lord,

With troubled hearts we are here today to remember your children who have left us too soon due to gun violence.

We know that you care for all your children. We pray that you will touch the hearts of anyone who would take the life of another. Be with all the families who have lost loved ones and keep the victims of gun violence in your care.

Lord, we pray that you guide our legislators to make sensible gun laws which will keep all your children safe and stem the gun violence that plagues our country. May we and our nation’s leaders listen for and hear the action you wish us to take.

Now in a small gesture we humbly ring the bells in your houses of worship that Your will be done as it is in Heaven.

May it be so. Amen

Prayer by Ginter Park Presbyterian Church

UMC RESOURCES

• Learn more about how United Methodists can take a stand on gun violence.
• Additional resources are available through UMC Church and Society.
• UMC Church and Society – Gun Violence Prevention
• UMC Church and Society – Gun Violence Prevention Articles

CONTACT

For more information, contact Nancy Shepherd or Jim Tucker.