Following the tragic events in New Orleans, Bishop Lanette invites us to join Bishop Delores J. Williamston and our United Methodist siblings in the Louisiana Conference in prayerful response. (Read Bishop Williamston's response here.)

Photo courtesy of subspash/Eriks Abzinovs

Dear Beloved Community, 

On this first day of the New Year, we find ourselves burdened with grief and sorrow following the tragic events in New Orleans early this morning. This act of senseless violence has pierced the joy of celebration, leaving us to grapple with profound loss and pain. As we mourn for lives forever changed, we also lean into the hope and resilience that the dawn of a new year inspires—even as acts of terror and violence threaten to dim the light and hope of Christmas.

Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, marks both the arrival of the magi in the ancient Christmas story and the approach of Mardi Gras in Louisiana. The colors of the Mardi Gras season—purple, green, and gold—call us to deeper reflection amid the pain resulting from this tragedy. Purple, the color of justice, reminds us of our hope for a world where wrongs are righted and peace prevails. Green, the color of faith, calls us to hold fast to our belief that love can and will overcome darkness. Gold, the color of power, emboldens us to use our collective strength to build a more compassionate and inclusive community.

In the face of today's tragedy, we carry into this new year the hope of renewal:

• Hope for healing, that those wounded—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—will find comfort and restoration.
• Hope for unity, that communities across the nation and the world will stand together to reject violence and embrace peace.
• Hope for transformation, that we might be agents of change, seeking justice, offering love, and building a future where such acts of violence no longer occur.

This is not an easy hope. It is one forged in the fires of grief and nurtured by our faith in God’s unending grace. As we step into 2025, may the symbols of Mardi Gras remind us that even amidst loss, we are a people who hold fast to the light of Christ—a light that no darkness can overcome.

Let us weave our prayers, our actions, and our hopes into a tapestry of justice, faith, and power, honoring those lost and creating a path toward the promise of peace. May God walk with us in this new year, guiding us toward healing and hope, and may we hold all affected by this attack in our deepest prayers. 

In the hope of Christ,

Bishop Lanette