A pastoral response to the violence in Tumbler Ridge

The leadership team of Community of Christ in Canada holds the people of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in our prayers following the tragic loss of life at the local secondary school. We join people across Canada in grieving with families, students, educators, and first responders affected by this violence. We condemn this act and reaffirm our commitment to the sacred worth of all persons and to the ongoing work of building safer, more peaceable communities.

Today we reaffirm our commitment to World Conference Resolution 1331, adopted June 3, 2025, which calls our church “to reexamine firearms policies to determine how best to reduce firearm availability in private hands,” and “to prepare study materials for congregations and members to use to advocate for the most effective means of reducing gun violence,” so that our nation adopts “firearm program and regulation regimes that have been demonstrated to substantially limit gun violence.”

In this spirit of prayer and solidarity, Lanette Vawter, Director of Leadership Development, offers the following pastoral reflection:

Dear Friends,

I woke up on Feb 11th to the heartbreaking news of the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge the day before. Like many of you, a jumble of emotions washed over me including shock, anger, fear and sadness. I felt a sense of helplessness of not being able to alleviate the terror and suffering that occurred at the school. 

Often when tragedy happens, we send “thoughts and prayers” through posts online. But how often do we actually pause, breathe and allow ourselves to pray? I decided I needed to act on this thought and pray.

I went into my office and knelt to pray. “Oh God…” was all I could say, and then I fell forward from the weight of grief that pressed down on me. I tried again, “Oh God…” and the tears began to pour down my face. I cried as I imagined holding a fearful child, I cried into the terrified helplessness of the situation, and I cried for the anger and the sorrow that filled my heart.

As I sat with those feelings, something shifted. I realized that I was not simply crying for the people of Tumbler Ridge but also for my own grief and pain and for the suffering shared by us all. As I continued to hold the people of Tumbler Ridge in the light of love I realized there was no longer any separation between us, that we were all being held in this light of God’s love. 

Perhaps one of the essential qualities of prayer is the breakdown of barriers we raise to shield ourselves from others’ suffering. Prayer can help us realize that we are not alone, that our neighbours’ pain is also our pain and healing is possible when we realize that our separation from God and others is an illusion. 

Will you join me in prayer for the people of Tumbler Ridge:

Mysterious God, we cry out to you as the prophets of old demanding a response to the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Tumbler Ridge. May our outrage and anger not overshadow love. Help us to open to the unbearable suffering and allow our deep love for fellow beings emerge. 

God, may the people of Tumbler Ridge be surrounded by the light of your love. May at every turn, they feel the support and love of their community.

God, help us remember to truly pray and open the door to a greater love than we knew we could carry.