Matthew Hinton AP
Grieving Parents
Long Island, New York residents Louis Tenedorio, left, and his wife, Cathy Tenedorio, embrace by a memorial Bourbon Street and Canal Street in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, where their son, Matthew Tenedorio, was killed as one of the victims of the New Year's Day deadly truck attack and shooting. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Louisiana Conference | January 02, 2025
New Orleans, a city known for its lively culture and celebrations, is now marked by sadness and shock.
This time of year usually brings the excitement of Carnival season and major events like the Sugar Bowl and the upcoming Super Bowl.
Instead, the Crescent City is reeling from the tragic incident in the French Quarter.
United Methodist pastors all across New Orleans are working to provide spiritual guidance and hope.
As they prepared for Sunday services, they focused on addressing the grief and uncertainty while also helping the city heal.
A Time to Lament
St. Mark's United Methodist Church is located in the French Quarter.
Rev. Lenda Faye Matthews, pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in the French Quarter, just a mile and a half north of the deadly scene, says the city is grappling with a mix of shock and sadness.
"A word that I've embraced, especially at moments like these, is 'lament'," Rev. Matthews said. "We lament that violence is still as prevalent as it is. It's certainly a time to lament the things that are seemingly beyond our control, but we should also never stop trying to make a difference."
As Rev. Matthews prepares for Sunday’s service, she reflects on her sermon from a week ago, where she spoke about Paul’s description of putting on a 'new set of clothes', a wardrobe of kindness and compassion.
“We need to extend that this week, reminding folks that we are called to be the light of Jesus. Even in the midst of violence, we should be asking ourselves, 'How do we embrace the light? How does the light change us? And how can we share the light with others?’”
Rev. Matthews believes this moment is also a chance to renew the Christian witness of hope and action.
“Each of us, every day, has an opportunity to make wise choices and to take a moment to be open to hearing what the Divine is saying,” she said. “Yes, this is a major incident and it hits close to home, but this kind of stuff happens every day, all over the world, so we can't ever lose the focus of why we are here, and what we have to do. And we must always remember that together, we can get through anything.”
"What Are You For?"
First Grace United Methodist Church is located on Canal Street, about a mile and a half west of the incident.
Rev. Shawn Anglim, pastor at First Grace, describes a city filled with deep sadness.
However, he also senses an opportunity to encourage his congregation to embrace a spiritual perspective on humanity.
"In the midst of your grief and as you come out of that or just feel the weight of it, you can't just be against things,” Rev. Anglim said. “I think there’s a different spiritual sense when you think about ‘what am I for?’ and you keep putting that in front of you instead of what you’re against, which often leads to a mean-spiritedness, a hardness, and an inability to hear.
"As we move into a new year, this is a chance to remind ourselves what we’re for, what we’re working for, and not just what we’re against. The world will give us good reasons to be mean-spirited about things— there’s no question about that. But the creative, prophetic task, which is life-giving, is figuring out how you’re going to be for things and to be faithful about it."
The Work of Christmas
Rev. Jay Hogewood, pastor of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church on historic St. Charles Avenue, says the shock is palpable and that there is still a noticeable stillness.
"I think the vibe is to stay low and a hesitancy to do anything in an organized way, to be honest with you," Rev. Hogewood said. "But I also get the sense that the city is vigilant and ready to respond in any way that is helpful to the investigation."
Rev. Hogewood has been reflecting on the significance of Epiphany Sunday and sees parallels between the tragedy and the story of God’s manifestation.
"You know, all of the 'aha moments' in life don't necessarily always lead the same direction. Suddenly, there is this moment in the French Quarter—a moment of deep sadness, complete horror and total chaos. But yet, here again, there are glimpses of the manifestation of God, right? That God can and will show up in the most crazy of ways—even the most disastrous ones. And yet, if we are faithful, can we not sense the nature of God's peace? The grace of Christ? The blessing and the opportunity to be able to offer care to others."
During a Thursday 6:30 a.m. Bible study, Hogewood found renewed inspiration when someone in the group reminded everyone that Christmas had just begun by sharing Howard Thurman’s poem, The Work of Christmas.
Rev. Hogewood says it's a beautiful reminder of the ongoing work of Christmas and has helped shape his perspective as he prepares to offer hope and guidance to his congregation this Sunday.
The Work of Christmas
by Howard Thurman
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
Todd Rossnagel
Todd Rossnagel is director of communications for the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This article is republished with permission from the conference website.