Virtual Homicide Vigil copy

March 6, 2023

For many of us these weeks prior to Easter are known as the season of Lent. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. All three of these actions are a part of the prayer vigils we hold on the second Saturday of each month at McIntosh Park, 12:00 noon. We pray together, we fast by giving up the time we might be using for our own interests, we give the alms of presence by sharing in the sorrow of those who have lost their loved ones. “Would that you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high.” (Isiah 58: 4) On March 11 we will remember: 2/16 - Shaquiel Clemons, 28, gun violence; 2/19 - Mackenzie Battle, 29, gun violence; 2/20 - Al Jaheem Brown, 38, gun violence; 2/22 - Dameka Bennett-Ross, 22, gun violence; 2/22 - Lafeon Hamilton, 35, gun violence; 2/26 - Michaela Daniels, 44 and Felicia Brown, 38, friends, killed together by gun violence; 2/27 - Tiffany Suzzane Anderson, 43 vehicular – intentional or accidental, still undetermined. Prayer Leader – Barbara Mosley, Omega Baptist Church. PRAYER TO END VIOLENCE: God of life, source of hope, The violence within our world, our communities, our families indeed, within our very selves is destroying your creation. Make still the restless spirit within me that is self-seeking. Stir within my heart a renewed spirit of reverence, respect and reconciliation. In union with the Precious Blood of Jesus, give me the strength to break the cycle of violence by realizing that peace begins with me. Amen.

February 6, 2023

Saturday, February 11th is our next gathering to witness and pray for those who have lost their lives “through senseless acts of violence.” This month we will remember: Lawrence Bell, 27 – stabbing Marc Giles-Sims, 34 – gun violence Steven Carlson, 68 – vehicular homicide Ray Kennedy, 60 – pedestrian Wade Brunson, 47 – stabbing And on the national scene, Tyre Nichols, 29 - death by police in Memphis, TN Perhaps now is a good time to reflect on words from the book of the prophet Habakkuk 1:2-4; and 2:2-4. We read: How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it still surely come, it will not be late.” God of life, source of hope, the violence within our world, our communities, our families, indeed our very selves is destroying our creation. Make still the restless spirit within me that is self-seeking. Stir within my heart a renewed Spirit of reverence, respect, and reconciliation. In union with the Precious Blood of Jesus, give me the strength to break the cycle of violence by realizing that peace begins with me. Amen.

December 12, 2022

May you find true peace free of those in this life who hurt you, and may you get to see how your beautiful babies have grown.

December 3, 2022

Next Saturday, December 10, we will gather to remember victims of violence whose lives have ended since last month’s vigil. We will pray for: JOHN MULLINS, 61, September 29, Trotwood; a homicide ruling was made in November. KEYTON MARLON WOODS, 20, November 15; shot to death in 3700 block of W. Second St. KRISTEN CONNOR, 22, November 20; vehicular homicide, Riverside - Beatrice Dr. MARQUAN COCHRAN, 22, November 26, shot, died on Nov. 28; 1100 block of Rosedale. SCOTT PATRICK HANNAH, 27, November 27; stabbed to death; Riverside - Dundee Circle. We pray for their families and loved ones as they face the Christmas holidays without their loved ones. Our prayer leader will be Barbara Mosley from Omega Baptist Church. A refrain we often hear sung during these pre-Christmas (Advent) days) is “Come, Lord Jesus.” While we remember Jesus’ coming historically and anticipate his coming at the end of time, we tend to forget that Jesus is here now, in our time. Do we call upon him as that life unfolds? When we find ourselves anxious… Come, Lord Jesus. When we feel left out or alone…. Come, Lord Jesus. When we don’t want to answer one more phone call or e-mail…. Come, Lord Jesus. When we don’t want to hear another sad story…. Come, Lord Jesus. When we stand with those who grieve…. Come, Lord Jesus. When we are ready to give up all hope for a better world…. Come, Lord Jesus. When we don’t feel like celebrating Christmas – or anything…. Come, Lord Jesus. When we count our blessings before we fall asleep…. Come, Lord Jesus. What would you add to this litany? May this Advent season find you praying, “Come, Lord Jesus.” May you “gift” yourself with moments to breathe deeply and remember the peace of God who walks with you, loves you uniquely and is present in all of life’s ups and downs. Just call, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones! — Sr. Jeanette Buehler

November 29, 2022

I pray you get peace and justice. I pray that all the people involved with this young man’s murder gets held accountable and punished for what they did. I pray that your family heals and I pray nothing but love and happiness to you all. In Jesus name AMEN

November 4, 2022

Special thanks to each of you who were present at our first post-COVID vigil. We were blessed to have members of the George Davis family with us. It is our hope that the “community” gathering in a centralized location will increase participation and awareness of our need to prayerfully affirm the sacredness of all life. For those who couldn’t join us last week, just a reminder that we now meet at 12:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month at McIntosh Park on Riverview/Edwin C. Moses Blvd. So, our next date is November 12th. If you cannot be with us at the park, please keep these victims and families in prayer. Since the vigil on October 7, the following have lost their lives: October 11 — Anthony Matthews, 56, on McCall St. Remembering George Davis again. Blessings to each of you as we approach the season of Thanksgiving. — Sister Jeanette Buehler

September 7, 2022

As August draws to a close, we want to remember those members of our community who lost their lives by violence. This month we pray for three who died at the end of July along with 7 during August. We remember: July 28 - DANIEL THOMAS, 59, machete, Ridge Ave.; July 29, KYLE K. GILMORE, two-months-old, killed by his father, White Oak Dr.; July 30, MICHAEL AVERY, 42, stabbed to death in domestic violence, Rugby Rd.; JAIREMIAH GLENN, 17, accidental shooting, Yale Ave.; Aug. 13, GLENDA POPE, 65, stabbing; Wentworth Apartments; Aug. 14, SAMUEL G. OSBORN, 40, stabbing, Chelsea Ave.; Aug. 15, MARK DANLEY, 58, hit and run, Philadelphia Dr.; Aug. 18, CLINTON J. PIERCE, 44, shot, 400 block of Burkhardt Ave.; Aug. 21, ELIJAH STOLLINGS, 20, homicide, Shiloh Springs Rd.; Aug. 24, TERRANCE BASS, 28, hit and run, crossing Cornell Dr. at Fotip Ln. Each of these persons was loved by someone who now grieves their loss. Perpetrators must live knowing that they took the lives of another human being. The ripples of violence spread and our community is less because of it. Let us not become insensitive to the violence around us. PRAYER (Rev. Sylvia Moseley-Robinson) SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. REFLECTION: Writer, Anne Lamott “During your life, you will lose someone you can’t live without. And your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly – that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” God has given us permission to grieve with the promise of comfort. Our brothers and sisters in Dayton continue to dance with a limp and love with broken hearts as we grieve at the violent loss of lives in our communities. We love with broken hearts as we pray and work for a non-violent future for ourselves, our children and our generations. PRAYER: Healing God, we ask for your guidance as we encounter those who live among us and are grieving the tremendous loss of life that we are continuously experiencing. Please be with the families, mothers, fathers and children of the victims of violence. Please God, put others around them that will walk with them through this new reality as they grieve. We pray for the souls of the ones that committed these acts of violence as well as their families. We pray for our communities who will forever miss the lives that were taken from us and we thank you for your grace and your mercy. In Jesus name. Amen.

August 1, 2022

There have been a number of shootings this past month with no report of actual deaths. In two of the most serious shootings, neither victim was identified. One man, 28 years old, was listed in critical condition and another injured in an altercation in which the intended target defended himself. In a separate shooting, the condition of a 30-year-old man was not given. The person who shot him was charged with "felonious assault" rather than homicide. Regardless of the circumstances, let us pray for all victims of violence and those affected by it. God of life, source of hope the violence within our world, our communities, our families, indeed our very selves is destroying Your creation. In union with the Precious Blood of Jesus, give us the strength to break the cycle of violence, to hear the cry of the blood and make sacred again Your earth stained by blood. Amen. AN UPDATE: The question has been raised as to when the on-site vigils will restart. At this time we are considering changes to the format. Know that any decisions made will be based on the values of prayer, presence and witness. ADDENDUM: I sincerely apologize for having missed 2 homicides early in July. It is my hope that you will hold both of these young men and their families in your prayers. Both died of gunshot wounds. To lose their lives at such young ages is especially difficult for family and friends. July 6 — Justin Brown, 21, 1700 block of W. Riverview Avenue July 9 — Devin Taione Bennett, 18, 1900 block of Gant Dr. — Thank you for remembering them, Sister Jeanette Buehler.

August 1, 2022

Please, pray for Jason, Michele, and their families’ salvation. Jason doesn’t believe God exists and Michele doesn’t think he needs to have a personal relationship. Please pray that they are saved, they return to Tecla and I, and we follow God together. Thank you!

June 30, 2022

As June draws to a close, we have had 6 gun-related homicides this month claiming the lives of six persons ranging in age from 6 to 78. The victims are: June 1: Darrell Holderman, 78, a security guard at Miami Valley Hospital; June 6: Jarren Allen, 30, shot in his backyard on Clemmer St.; June 8: Jamell Brown, 37, killed in the 300 block of Woodward Ave.; June 20: Mark Watts, 33, during a Fathers’ Day event in Harrison Township; June 23: Aisha Nelson 31, and daughter, Harper Monroe Guynn, 6 in their home on Burleigh Ave. In addition to these killings there have been a number of shootings in our community. Recent decisions lessening gun restrictions by Ohio’s legislature and by the Supreme Court cause us to wonder if both shootings and homicides will increase. All life is precious; all life must be protected. HOMICIDE PRAYER VIGIL, June 2022 OPENING PRAYER: Faithful and loving God, with your help we come this day to stand up to violence. We stand together expressing our unity, our connection to each other and to you who are our hope for healing and transformation. Let your Spirit move through us. Help us to transform and heal our communities by first transforming ourselves. Let us be images of your Son Jesus who died that all people would know your love. We come in peace and with hope for a better world as we remember victims of violence and their families. Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1:2, 2:1-3 “How long God am I to cry for help while you will not listen; to cry ‘Violence’ in your ear while you will not save? I shall stand at my post, I shall station myself on my watch-tower, watching what he will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaints. Then God answered me and said, ‘Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read. For the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and it will not lie, although it may take some time, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long.” Luke 6:36-39 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you.” Reflection: What is the vision for which we pray? What does Jesus’ vision require of us? Response in Prayer: Loving God, each person is of your creation, Darrell, Jarren, Jamell, Mark, Aisha and Harper, Give everlasting peace to each of them! Loving God, so many people are in pain and grieving today especially the families and friends of those whom we mentioned and all who have lost loved ones to violence, Give them strength and peace and have companions to journey with! Loving God, our streets and lives are stained with the blood of our brothers and sisters, all with a unique story and many wanting someone who cares, Help us reach out to them with healing and a life-giving presence! Loving God, in our lives, our neighborhoods and the world, especially at places of violence and bloodshed, we grieve, Give us hearts of reconciliation and show us the way to peace! Loving God, when we see people alone, hungry, discriminated against or victims of hate, Teach us to respect everyone with human dignity! Loving God, when people are tested and turn to guns and violence to solve problems or differences, Make our hearts stand in solidarity with Jesus and the victims as we try to change our systems! Loving God, men and women in law enforcement face daily challenges, Give them wisdom and integrity as they seek to protect and serve all members of our communities! Prayer to End Violence: God of life, source of hope, the violence within our world, our communities, our families, indeed within our very selves is destroying Your creation. In union with the Precious Blood of Jesus, give us strength to break the cycle of violence, to hear the cry of the blood and make sacred Your earth stained by blood. This we ask in Jesus Name. AMEN. Peace be with you!! “Let there be peace on earth.”

June 21, 2022

Pericles Bernard Cabarrubias, For a Deceased Parent Aquiles on Father’s Day: O God, Who has commanded us to honor our father Aquiles, have compassion in Thy mercy, on the soul of my father Aquiles; forgive him his sins, and grant that I may see him in the joy of eternal brightness. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. et convertet cor patrum ad filios et cor filiorum ad patres eorum, Prayer for Fathers, 19 June 2022. God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Corpus Christi Prayer , Let us pray for the willingness to make present in our world the love of Christ shown to us in the Eucharist, Lord Jesus Christ, we worship you living among us in the sacrament of your body and blood. May we offer to our Father in heaven a solemn pledge of undivided love. May we offer to our brothers and sisters a life poured out in loving service of that kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God for ever and ever. Amen. Apostleship of Prayer - Philippines, Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary - Family of St. Dominic in Cebu, Philippines.

June 2, 2022

The month of May will be remembered as a month of grieving. From Buffalo, NY to Uvalde, TX lives of young and old have been lost to hatred and gun violence. Here in our own community, families have also experienced the deaths of those they loved: May 6 Taylor Johnson, 21, found shot to death in a car on Saylor St. in Harrison Twp.; May 16 Steven L. Arnold, 39 shot on W. Third St., died on May 17; May 18 Myquan R. Taylor, 29, shot on Stewart St., died 3 days later on May 21. May 28 Reinaldo Gomez Taylor, 33, shot near Save-A-Lot on N. Gettysburg Ave.; May 29 Jermaine Chatham, 42, shot in the 700 block of Parkview Ave.; May 31 Bobbie Daniels, 40, shot while cutting grass in Trotwood. And we remember the countless lives ended in Ukraine. “Thoughts and prayers are not enough.” This is a phrase so often heard during this time of so much loss and grief. And yet we do pray mindful that God works through us and calls us to build a better world. Scripture: Revelations 21: 1 3-4 Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away ... I heard a voice from the throne cry out: 'This is God’ dwelling among [all people]. He shall dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be their God who is always with them. He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away. We pray: God of our lives, you are always calling us to follow you into the future, inviting us to new ventures, new challenges, new ways to care, new ways to touch the hearts of all. When we become fearful of the unknown, give us courage. When we worry that we are not up to the task, remind us that you would not call us if you did not believe in us. When we get tired or feel disappointed with the way thing are going, remind us that you can bring change and hope out of the most difficult situation. (Kathy Galloway) We reflect: In this culture of racism and violence, to what is God calling me? With which of the feelings in the above prayer do I most identify? Where do I find hope? In Scripture, in persons, in movements, in ... We ask: God in your mercy, hear us. For Taylor, Steven, Myquan, Reinaldo, Jermaine, Bobbie and all victims of violence, especially those in Buffalo, Uvalde and Ukraine ... For the family and friends of all who grieve ... For all who inflict violence, that they find both justice and mercy ... For wisdom guidance and compassion on all who serve the common good ... For ourselves, that we may actively pursue lives of non-violence ... For these intentions that I hold in my heart ... OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN ...