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People of Faith Come Together to Remember Newtown VictimsCandlelight vigil held in AnchorageRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - During a candlelight vigil Monday night at the Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Rev. Michael Burke prayed with a crowd of more than 100 grieving people. “We pray for our nation and for your presence in the deeper questions we must both ask and answer together,” he said. It may never be possible to understand why 27 innocent children and adults were murdered in Newtown on Friday. "I don't know details of the young man who did this heinous thing, but I doubt there is much reason in it,” said Pastor Glenn Peterson. Families, couples and individuals filled the church as a bell was rung 27 times to represent the lives taken by 20-year-old Adam Lanza. “As a parent you feel that loss; even though you don't know any of the people involved, you just feel so helpless,” said Rachel Grenier after the 45-minute service. At this time of loss, people of faith are coming together across the country to show support for the families in Newtown whose worlds were ripped apart. “It's just heartbreaking, it's just heart-wrenching,” said Jackie Duffield, who attended the vigil with her son and husband. “We all wanted to come tonight to make sure that they knew that their memory will always live within our hearts,” she said. Duffield’s son, seventh grader Jonathan Duffield, lit a candle for the victims. "I feel horrible that families are lost,” he said. Jonathan wore a green ribbon to school on Monday to represent the Newtown children and teachers. “Just to get more people to feel like there is hope and appreciate that they have a family,” said Jonathan. As communities come together to heal in this time of darkness, religious leaders say there's something to be learned. “One thing we wanted to express is hope, and acting with love and not with revenge or with violence,” said Pastor Glenn Peterson. |
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common sense said on Tuesday, Dec 18 at 9:33 AM
While we here in Alaska are quite obviously helpless to have done anything to prevent what happened in Conn, I must be out of touch with this because I don't personally feel helpless, and I have taught survival skills to my kids, both wilderness and urban jungle style. They know what to do if they encounter moose or bears, and they know what to do if someone starts shooting in a public place. They know that at a certain age they will be able to carry personal protection to further the security those skills bring. Beyond that, none of us can control what happens to us in life. If someone is determined to kill you, then you may just end up dead. But being prepared beats feeling helpless.
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