Dear Friends,

“We continue to grieve with our nation in the wake of today’s mass murder at a school in Connecticut. This is the most gut wrenching of all the recent gun-violence related incidents we have seen in the sad history of such occurrences. We also send our prayers and energy toward those in Portland, Colorado, and Virginia for whom this news brings back fresh memories of trauma.

Our hearts go out to the families who lost their children and other loved ones, as well as the families of the survivors as their innocence was snatched away from them. May God comfort them all. We as an Interfaith Council offer our hope, love, strength and prayers in dealing with this tragedy. Events like this remind us of our calling to become more loving towards our children, neighbors and community. Let us renew our dedication to care for those with anger, hopelessness or mental illness.”

Rev. Will McGarvey
Interim Executive Director
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
1543 Sunnyvale Avenue
Walnut Creek, CA 94597

On behalf of the Executive Board of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County:

• Chair – Rev. Leslie Takahashi-Morris, Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, Walnut Creek
• Vice-Chair – Rev. Margaretmary Staller, Episcopal Diocese of California, Walnut Creek
• Secretary – Loel Bartlett Miller, Sufism Reoriented, Walnut Creek
• Treasurer – Myrdell Dybdal, Community Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg
• Dr. Amer Araim, Walnut Creek Islamic Center
• Rabbi Raphael Asher, Congregation B’nai Tikvah, Walnut Creek
• Rev. Tom Bonacci, C.P., Ecumenical and Inter-religious Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Oakland, Interfaith Peace Project, Antioch
• Darlene Cioffi-Pangilla, Buddha Gate Monastery, Lafayette
• Terry Clark, Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, Lafayette
• Jaleh Kilpatrick, Baha’i Community, Walnut Creek
• Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Pittsburg
• Susan Lawton, First Presbyterian Church, Concord
• Rev. Norman Luecke, First Congregational Church (UCC), Martinez
• Dr. Ejaz Naqvi (Provisional),Islamic Center of Zahra, Pleasanton
• Lori Ortiz, Church Women United, Martinez
• Judy Porta, First Church, Christ Scientist, Orinda (Alternate – Hazel Faries)
• Khurram Shah, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Bay Point