Church Doors Open For Prayers And Services

By Shannon Hicks

Newtown’s churches responded quickly to the needs of townspeople looking for some answers or guidance to the terrorist attacks in the United States earlier this week. On Tuesday, September 11, the doors of church buildings across town opened for those looking for some peace and solace after a day that was filled with tragic news of terrorist attacks from start to finish.

A small group gathered among the pews at Newtown Congregational Church Tuesday evening. The Reverend Steve Gordon invited those who visited the West Street church to share their thoughts on what had happened earlier in the day.

In addition to Newtown Congregational Church’s service of prayer and support, Grace Christian Fellowship Church hosted a prayer service and St Rose of Lima held a Mass for Peace Tuesday evening. Trinity Episcopal was open all day for anyone who wanted to visit, and a service was conducted that evening. United Methodist Church opened its doors Wednesday through Friday for prayer and meditation, in addition to a Wednesday evening prayer service.

Newtown Meeting House was also opened for meditation from 10 am to 5 pm daily through Saturday.

Near the back of Newtown Congregational Church Tuesday night, one mother sat between her two young children, a son and daughter who could not have been more than ten years old. The mother had her arms wrapped protectively around her children’s shoulders as the Reverend Steve Gordon spoke softly and calmly.

When offered the opportunity to share her thoughts on the day, one woman said she had watched a televised report a few hours earlier where one man was talking about his hometown.

“He had always lived in New York City,” she said. “He had never lived anywhere else and now his world was shattered.” The woman began wondering, she said, about something as horrific could ever happen to Newtown.

“It isn’t really personal right now,” she told the group, “because they didn’t blow up a church or any part of our town. It’s hard to relate to all of this.”

After a few more people offered thoughts, Mr Gordon then asked the group to “pray for our leaders to guide us, for our armed forces.

“Fear and anger are such natural human responses,” he said. “We must pray for peace in this dangerous and vulnerable time.” He was correct in addressing those two particular responses. Less than one hour later, President Bush addressed the country, calling most citizens’ response to the day’s events “a quiet anger.”

Mr Gordon cautioned against responding to some of Man’s worst instincts.

“It is hard in this day to love our neighbors, but we are called to. We are called to be instruments of peace,” he said.