Holding lit candles, the 70-something strong crowd sang "We Shall Overcome", "I Need You to Survive", and "America the Beautiful", and one by one, leaders of local houses of worship offered words of solace and led prayers for healing and peace.
Among those that participated: Rev. John McGinley of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church, Rabbi Melody Davis and retired Rabbi Jonathan Gerard of Temple Covenant of Peace, Rev. Paul Cronin of New Creation United Church of Christ, Fr. Andrew Gerns of Trinity Episcopal Church, and Rabbi Daniel Stein of B'nai Abraham.
Rev. R. C. Smith of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Rev. Matilda Chase of Olivet United Presbyterian Church, Rev. Sue Ruggles of St. John's Lutheran Church, Senior Pastor Mike Dowd of First United Church of Christ, Rev. Alex Hendrickson who serves as a chaplain at Lafayette College, and members of the Salvation Army also attended.From Allentown, Lynnette Zulli of He Who Has an Ear translated the service in American Sign Language, and Rev. Kari Holmes of Deliverance International Church led the audience in song.
"It was a very nice celebration of religious diversity in Easton," said Stein after the event.
Click on any photo for a full size view.
Updated at 4:38 p.m. to add College Hill Presbyterian Church as participants, and again on Saturday, April 20, at 10:04 a.m. to add more participants' names.
The top photo clearly shows RC Smith of College
ReplyDeleteHill Presbyterian....give him a mention, too.
Done. Thanks for letting me know.
DeleteAlso Rev. Matilda Chase. pastor of Olivet United Presbyterian (top photo next to RC Smith) and myself (Rev. Alex Hendrickson, chaplain at Lafayette College -- I'm the one lighting candles with two of my children).
ReplyDeleteThanks, added. I asked around after the event, but it was put together so quickly, the various folks I talked to didn't have a complete list of every organization that was represented.
Delete