Steve Pearl served Christ Church faithfully for 27 years. He was a welcoming presence to families at drop-off and pick up and steadfast in his work as Head of Maintenance for the church. I shouldn’t be writing a memorial today of Steve Pearl. He was a known acquaintance and child of God. He went home today to be with the Lord. He was beaten at 6 am outside of his home on Saturday morning and succumbed to his injuries. No suspects have been caught.
Psalm 79 captures my struggle today. Many of us that knew Steve or knew who he was had a similar relationship with Liza Fletcher. This is the second innocent person killed that we know in less than a year and we’re sad, angry, fearful, and searching for answers. We ask for justice in a fallen world and pray for Christ’s healing presence in our city. Raise up a bold people to defeat the adversary. Forgive us of our sins and gird us for battle against darkness. Maranatha Father! We cry out to Your Holy Name.
Lord, comfort those mourning Steve’s passing. Remind them of Your promise for those who love You. Lord, bring the killers to justice. Bless the detectives and others providing evidence. Protect them. We pray for the right heart, one that does not seek vengeance in the downfall of man and also prays for redemption. Guard our hearts and minds in these fragile moments. May the murder of Steve Pearl be the last one in our city. Redeem this land and the people in it. In Your Name, Amen.
Psalm 79
A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2 They have left the dead bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
3 They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.
4 We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.
5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;
7 for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.
8 Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
9 Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.