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welcome to
harvard-epworth Church

Informal Communion 9 A.M. Traditional Worship Service 11 A.M.

We are a welcoming and inclusive church inviting people to explore the journey of faith. Our focus is on joyful worship, building community, encouraging faith exploration, passionate social justice and committed outreach.

welcome to
harvard-epworth Church

Informal Communion
9 A.M.
Traditional Worship Service
11 A.M.

Message from Rev. Herb Taylor

Hello from Herb,

The United States has a problem with gun violence. This is abundantly clear from what we see and hear in the news each day. We frustratedly wonder why this is happening in our country and why isn’t something being done. Over the last two weeks at our Adult Forum, I have greatly appreciated Graham Kelder’s leadership in providing insight and encouraging conversation around America’s gun problem. During one part of the discussion, someone expressed how uninformed they and many of us are to the reality of the problem. For change to happen and for the violence to cease it is essential for us to start with the facts, and from there we can make informed decisions ourselves and help others become more informed as well.

In response to this, I wanted to share with the broader church family a few of the resources that Graham has used to lead this discussion. First, I encourage you to click on this YouTube video which, although it is a few years old, highlights some essential realities about gun violence in America which has only got worse since (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX4qUsgHa4Y).

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We also discussed in detail the second amendment to the Constitution which people often use to defend “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” They do so without providing the full second amendment which states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” As you can see, the right to keep and bear arms was not first meant to be an individual right, but is a right given to state militias at a time when our country was being formed. Graham provided this interesting article around this issue, which you can find at: https://lawcenter.giffords.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DC_v_Heller_Gun_Regulation_Brochure.pdf .

If you want to read further on this, Graham suggests these four books related to gun violence: 1) “Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: A Personal History of Gun Violence” by Geoffrey Canada (which I read many years ago and it still inspires me today), 2) “The Gun Debate: What Everyone Needs to Know” by Philip J. Cook and Kristin Goss, 3) “The Politics of Gun Control” by Robert Spitzer, and 4) “America and Its Guns: A Theological Expose” by James Atwood.

Through informing ourselves, each of us takes the first step that can lead to helping reduce gun violence in America. Of course, you can start or continue that journey by joining us for the final part of the adult forum series on this topic, this Sunday at 10am, which will focus on what we can do about gun violence in America. See you in church!

Grace and peace,
Rev. Herb Taylor

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