Dr. George Tiller, the abortion provider in Wichita, Kansas was shot this morning just after 10 am while serving as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church. It’s assumed that the murderer was an abortion opponent. If this turns out to be true, I assume that the reasoning went something along these lines: abortion is wrong and therefore those who provide abortions must be killed. The problem is that you’ve just done the very thing you opposed when it was done by the other person. I think such flawed logic follows from the inability to see gray in a world where everything is increasingly painted in black and white terms.
The article in the Wichita Eagle ended by quoting one of Tiller’s long time nemesis:
Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, who conducted an investigation into Tiller, said in a statement he was “stunned by this lawless and violent act which must be condemned and should be met with the full force of law. We join in lifting prayer that God’s grace and presence rest with Dr. Tiller’s family and friends.
I would add that I think we need to also pray for Reformation Lutheran Church. I can only imagine what having someone murdered in your church building would do to the sense of the building as a safe and sacred space.
The Wichita Eagle story is here: http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/833730.html
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So far, painter John Taggart has refinished 71* doors from the 1963 renovation. This leaves, I think, 14 still to go. It’s probably a good thing that we didn’t tell him how many their would be when we started.
Don’t forget that this coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday when the liturgical color is red. It’s the only Sunday of the year in which the carpet in the sanctuary is liturgically correct. We’re encouraging everyone to wear red if you have it and not to sweat it if you don’t. (Jenny was just mentioning that she’s not sure she has any.)
I’m working on a sermon based on Acts 2.1-21 for this coming Sunday. This passage is often described as the first Pentecost (actually Jews had long celebrated Pentecost, this might more accurately be referred to as the first Christian Pentecost). In this passage the Holy Spirit fills the house, divided tongues as of fire rest on the disciples and they proclaim the gospel in languages that are not their own. It’s a little late in the week, but I would throw open my inbox to questions you have about this passage that you would like the sermon to address. I’m at johnandjenny@revcollins.com.
Yesterday’s sermon is now online at: 
The phone at the parsonage is now back in service. Thanks for your patience.
The Coffeyville Recreation Commission held it’s dance recital tonight. That’s worth mentioning because a) Elizabeth was on the dance team and b) we (as a church) sponsored the dance team. Jenny and I want to thank Kari and Kelsie Buetow for doing an excellent job coaching the girls.
