Churches offer strength, comfort in crisis

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

EVERETT — In this time of horrific loss, Pastor David Parks counted off what the nation still firmly grasps following Tuesday’s terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

There’s no loss in national pride or our movement toward prayer. There’s no loss of bravery or self-sacrifice. No loss of generosity.

"We’re blessed by so many important things that have not been lost," Parks told his congregation.

At Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Sunday, Park’s lesson focused on loss. Ironically, it wasn’t a topic Parks specifically picked for the day’s theme, but happened to be a Bible passage in a sequence of lessons used in church services throughout the year.

Still the topic provided Parks ample fodder for the followers.

Much was lost on Tuesday, the pastor said, including the lives of the perpetrators — the hijackers who pointed the jet planes into our nation’s symbols and all those who conspired with them.

"All are lost to an ugly darkness and an insatiable evil," Parks said.

Some might be wondering if God himself is lost, Parks said, or "maybe he forgot to show up for work Tuesday morning." The pastor assured the audience that God is "passionately invested in us," and will drive Himself nuts looking for us, just like the shepherd in the Bible who, may have a herd, but will search relentlessly for one lost sheep.

Parks reminded the congregation that, though we may want justice, God would want us to seek the kind of justice that is born from good and seeks redemption.

"Justice, yes, but the kind that comes from graciousness," Parks said. "Not from a lust for blood, or the same demons of murder and fear will enter our hearts. We better not get lost."

Parks tried to give all in attendance hope for the future, when Jesus returns and there’s a celebration, a grand banquet, where there will be no more hate.

"I’m betting my life on it," Parks said. "How about you?"

At the close of the service, the congregation was directed to sing the hymn "My County ‘Tis of Thee." As members lifted their voices and sang "My native country, thee. Land of the noble free. Thy name I love," some lifted their hands to wipe tears away or lifted their arms to embrace each other.

"We’ve been recovering, and God’s been our strength," said a somber yet steady Ruth Henshaw, of Everett, as she left the church with her family.

"We’ve been praying and reading our Bibles and singing praises to Jesus," Henshaw said. "Because Jesus is going to lead us through this land, not just through this tragedy, but always. Always."

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

or send e-mail to

goffredo@heraldnet.com.

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