Afterthought #41 – This Idea of Grace

The June Afterthought* comes at the end of a month of astounding national events. Some, such as the Supreme Court ruling making same-sex marriage a right nationwide, brought joy. The June 17 mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, though, was the source of grief and anger. President Obama, in his eulogy for slain church pastor Clementa C. Pinckney, spoke of the power of grace. It’s worth the time to watch his speech or read the transcript. And to remember the nine people who knew about this idea of grace:

• Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd (54) – Bible study member and manager for the Charleston County Public Library system
• Susie Jackson (87) – a Bible study and church choir member
• Ethel Lee Lance (70) – the church sexton
• Depayne Middleton-Doctor (49) – a pastor and school administrator and admissions coordinator at Southern Wesleyan University
• Clementa C. Pinckney (41) – the church pastor and a South Carolina state senator
• Tywanza Sanders (26) – a Bible study member; nephew of Susie Jackson
• Daniel Simmons (74) – a pastor who also served at Greater Zion AME Church in Awendaw, SC
• Sharonda Coleman-Singleton (45) – a pastor; also a speech therapist and track coach at Goose Creek High School
• Myra Thompson (59) – a Bible study teacher

*“Afterthoughts” are my blog version of a practice followed in some Quaker meetings. After meeting for worship ends, people continue in silence for a few more minutes during which they’re invited to share thoughts or reflect on the morning’s worship. I’ve adopted the form here for last-day-of-the-month brief reflections on headlines, quotes, books, maybe even bumper stickers.