Tag Archives: Missouri

A prayer when prayer seems utterly inadequate

Faced with the fury of

storm and tornado,

our words seem inadequate –

like ash in our throats

as our hearts ache,

Stil, we pray, O God,

Again, we pray, O God.

Acknowledging

the poverty of our words

the depth of our dread,

the strength of our concern

and the power of your love binding us together,

we pray

for people and places who have

endured storms and tornado.

Particularly we pray for

Kentucky and its people and

Missouri and its people,

the places where death and devastation

are reportedly the highest.

We pray as well,

for places and people

affected by this storm system

whose stories did not make the news cylee,

yet who stand in need.

Make your presence and care

known all buffeted by storms and blasted by tornadoes

Comfort all who grieve

the death of family, loved ones, or friends.

Comfort all who mourn

the death of dreams,

the loss of pets,

the destruction of property.

Work healing

in all who are injured in any way.

Ease anxieties.

Calm fears.

Provide strength to cope

and courage to hope.

Protect and guide first responders

and medical personnel.

Support efforts to recover and rebuild.

Inspire responses to provide appropriate aid.

We pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

This one came out in response to the recent storms and tornadoes. In many situations and circumstances, our prayers seem inadequate. Yet still we pray …

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Filed under Current Events, Prayer, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Stop the execution of Marcellus Williams!

Marcellus Williams is scheduled for death on Tuesday despite circumstances that he might be innocent. Sign a petition to the Governor of Missouri to halt the execution.

Why should we halt the execution?

Mr. Williams might be innocent.
But even if he is not, executing people to keep people from committing crimes has proven ineffectual.
Execution lowers us to the level of those who kill.
The violence of an execution feeds violence.
Thou shall not kill.

Background from Amnesty International

The state of Missouri is scheduled to execute Marcellus Williams on August 22 despite a lack of solid evidence used to secure his conviction and a new report from a DNA expert that his lawyers argue supports his claim to innocence.

“The death penalty is abhorrent in any circumstance, and as we have seen time and time again, the capital justice system is capable of error,” said Zeke Johnson, senior director of programs at Amnesty International USA. “The state of Missouri must not allow this execution to go forward, and must commute the sentences of all of those on death row. There is no acceptable way for the state to kill its prisoners.”

Williams was convicted of the 1998 murder of former St. Louis reporter Felicia Gayle by a jury consisting of 11 white jurors and one black juror. Williams is black and Gayle was white. There was no forensic evidence or eyewitness testimony linking him to the crime. The jury was not presented evidence of Williams’ background, which included severe abuse and mental disability.

Two experts retained by the appeal lawyers have concluded that DNA testing conducted in December 2016 on the murder weapon excludes Williams as the contributor of the male DNA found on the knife. The lawyers have just filed the latest expert report they have obtained on this with the Missouri Supreme Court in a bid to obtain a stay of execution.

See you along the Trail.

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Filed under Capital Punishment, Current Events, Death Penalty

#‎cecilonmymind‬

I contacted Missouri’s Governor Nixon asking him to stop the execution of Cecil Clayton.

I mourn for the family and friends of police officer Christopher Castetter.

Clayton was convicted of the murder of Christopher Castetter. There appears no question of his guilt for. No excuse. None. It was an appalling crime.

But, in executing Clayton, the state, we demean human life and degrade ourselves. We become murderers. I become a murderer. And I refuse to do that, as far as possible, silently.

The execution may proceed but it will not do so without my protest. However small my voice, however ignored my voice, I will raise my voice!

It is past time to abolish the death penalty.

See you along the Trail.

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Filed under Capital Punishment, Current Events, Death Penalty