Sermon and Prayer of Lament for Minneapolis

On January 25th, 2026, Pastor Kirsten Sauey Hofmann and Deacon Karleigh Crepin lead a Prayer of Lament from the All Creation Sings hymnal, after the murder of Alex Pretti. We want to acknowledge that Alex Pretti is not the only person ICE has senselessly killed. At this point in time, 9 people have died due to ICE’s recklessness; Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, Victor Manuel Diaz, Parady La, Renee Nicole Good, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Heber Sanchez Dominguez, Alex Pretti and Keith Porter. While Deacon Karleigh’s sermon says the names Renee Good and Alex Pretti, we want to acknowledge the loss of the other 7 saints as well. We hope this sermon and Prayer of Lament may help create a space for you to grieve the violence in our community and the lack of justice in our world. Lord of Life is here with the community and is grieving the violence with you all. 

Deacon Karleigh’s Sermon

I have to apologize. 

I spent all day yesterday trying to write the perfect sermon but kept hitting a wall.

 If you haven’t been aware or seen, Minneapolis has become a battleground.

My home, 

Our homes for some of us has delved into protesting, tear gas and reckless force.

In the midst of all of this I am tasked with providing some hope about a man named Nicodemus and the truths about Jesus Christ. 

I had prepared something different to preach on today. 

It was going to start with a nod to the Book of Mormon and the song “I Believe”. 

Then travel into Nicodemus 

and how amazing it was that he pursued the truth of Christ despite his social standing. 

Finally end with how we are called to pursue that same truth about Christ, 

but I can’t. 

I can’t not talk about what is happening in Minnesota. 

We are people of various beliefs when it comes to what is happening in Minnesota, but at the end of the day 

there are some irrefutable truths. 

Two people are dead. 

Families are separated.

Minneapolis is not safe. 

It breaks my heart that divided beliefs have caused pain and suffering upon others. 

We are called to love not violence.

As hippie-esc as I may sound,

it is our core beliefs as Christians to love. 

Love God

 Love Creation

and to Love our neighbors. 

From what I can see there is a large lack of love happening in our world right now. 

From Venezuela to Gaza, 

Greenland to Minneapolis, 

there is so much hate and suffering it feels suffocating. 

Regardless of who we voted for or how we feel about what’s happening in the world, 

we are called to peace, love and grace. 

Instead of a lengthy sermon from me, 

we are going to join in a prayer or lament from All Creation Sings. 

We are going to say the names Renee Good and Alex Pretti, 

because their loss matters. 

We are going to pray for peace and safety for both sides of the battlezone,

because peace should be available to all people. 

Most importantly we will come together as a community of Christ to pray for hope for a new day, where we can come together regardless of our differences for the betterment of society. 

Through this lament here are things we will not be doing

We will not incur violence 

We will not wish ill on one another for our beliefs

We will not judge one another for our beliefs.

What we will do is 

Open space for Jesus to bring 

Love

Hope 

And Justice

Our lament will show what a community focused on the love of Christ can achieve. 

Much like the 100 plus clergy showed on Friday. (Show Photos of Clergy on Friday) 

Our voices can be heard through non violent methods. 

God hears our cries 

and is working in our communities through us  to bring peace to All people. 

Siblings in Christ

Let us make a space where we can grieve

question 

and hope for a better day. 

Let us show what the power of love can do.

All Creation Sings Prayer of Lament