The Perry community “is no stranger to heartache,” said Perry Ministerial Association Co-president Andrea Brownlee of the First Christian Church Saturday to about 50 people who attended a service of Hope and Healing on the first anniversary of the shooting at Perry High School that left three dead and seven injured.
Brownlee and Perry Ministerial Association Co-chair Kimberly Belken of the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church were joined by several other local pastors, including the Rev. Greg Benton of the New Day Assembly of God Church, the Rev. Lynne Hanna of the First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Rick Gates of the Crossroads Church, the Rev. Don Keeler of the St. Martin Episcopal Church, the Rev. Litto Thomas of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, and the Rev. Jon T. Williams of the First United Methodist Church.
“As the year progressed, we took steps to rebuild that which was broken, to dream and to hope for our future and to work for hope and healing,” Belken said. “Today we honor and recall each step of this journey.”
The pastors lit three candles: one in memory of those who died, Ahmir Jolliff, Dan Marburger and Dylan Butler, the second in honor of those who survived and the third as “a beacon of hope and healing as we go forward,” Belken said. Together the candles represent “the compassion, wisdom and faith that make up our community,” she said.
Keeler quoted from the biblical book of Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season,” and he read “The Strength Within,” a poem by Langston Hughes.
Benton prayed from Psalm 121 of the Bible, which begins, “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From whence shall come my help?”
Gates quoted from a character in the television program “SWAT,” who said, “Sometimes tragedy can make people do some important rethinking.” He also drew from a famous speech by American patriot Patrick Henry, who invoked the “god of nature” and “the rattling chains of bondage.”
Thomas quoted the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” He said that “God is always present, weaving healing and hope from even the most shattered pieces of our lives.”
“There are still no words,” Brownlee said. “We encounter sorrow, grief and heartbreak almost on a daily basis in one way or another. We could stay in it, wallowing and wondering, ‘Why us? What else could possible happen?'” but that is not the Perry way.
Williams offered a prayer of gratitude for the support during this difficult year and invoked divine protection on the people present and all the community.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a press statement Saturday on the one-year anniversary of the PHS shooting,
“A year ago, the unthinkable happened here in Iowa,” Reynolds said. “Time has passed, but the painful loss remains. Today we remember Principal Dan Marburger, a hero who gave his life to save his students, and Ahmir Jolliff, a bright young man with his whole life ahead of him. Kevin and I continue to pray for the injured, their families, the faculty, staff, students and the entire Perry community that has valiantly grown stronger as they rebuild.”
Theresa Burns of rural Perry performed a moving rendition on flute of the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” to close out the formal portion of the Hope and Healing service. Fellowship followed among those gathered.
The service was held in the former Ben Franklin building in downtown Perry.
