As a small choir of children sang to piano accompaniment, more than 150 visitors gathered in the warm and brightly lit Newtown Meeting House Sunday evening for an hour-long interfaith service recognizing the second anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The event marked the only public ceremony occurring across the community on December 14, although most local houses of worship held activities recognizing the anniversary earlier in the day. Save for a few reporters and a news camera crew stationed across the street, it appeared Sunday would end quietly with many in the community spending time with loved ones, or engaging in quiet personal reflection.

Many of the participating clergy who were on hand for a December 16, 2012, service attended by President Barack Obama participated Sunday evening, reciting from sacred tracts, offering blessings for various service groups, and personal observations. Both gatherings had been organized by Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association.

The Reverend Jim Solomon of New Hope Community Church explained that the service would feature two members of the association speaking in turn, followed by a few moments of silence to allow for reflection before each new pair of clergy association members approached the dais.

Muadh Bhavnagarwala representing the Al Hedaya Islamic Center opened the ceremony with a traditional sacred blessing delivered in song. He was followed by The Reverend Kathy Adams-Shepherd, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, with a prayer dedicated to children and families.

“Raise up in them that resilient strength,” she prayed, while calling on those gathered to “respect and honor the dignity of everyone.”

Rabbi Shaul Praver of Congregation Adath Israel joined Monsignor Robert Weiss of St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church paying tribute to educators. Rabbi Praver said he found two appropriate references within the Talmud, the first reminding parents and educators to “teach your child according to their true nature.”

The second, he said, reminded attendees to “Learn from the wise one … the one who is perpetually learning.” Rabbi Praver also related an anecdote illustrating how teachers must consider students like dandelions or orchids, depending on how much particular effort may be required to bring each one to blossom in their own time.

“The most important thing we can teach is a love for learning,” Rabbi Praver related. “We need to be imaginative and creative … to learn from all people and all things.”

After reciting the names of the six educators lost on 12/14, Msgr Weiss referred to each of Newtown’s educators as “a treasure, a gift, and a hero.”

The Reverend Leo McIlraith, representing The Lutheran Home of Southbury, joined Reverend Caroline Hamilton-Arnold of Newtown Congregational Church in blessing all of Newtown’s first responders. After Rev McIlraith  recited a brief passage from the Book of Revelations, Rev Hamilton-Arnold thanked local police, fire and emergency medical volunteers for providing immediate assistance to those stricken “in times of crisis and in times of calm,” and for their “unwavering support during the days and years of healing,” following the tragedy.

“When the alarm sounds and they are called to care for friend and stranger alike,” Rev Hamilton-Arnold commended responders, praying for their continued “courage, humility, strength and wisdom.”

In her blessing directed to post 12/14 caregivers and members of the faith community, Margo Woodall, of Newtown’s Baha’i Community, reminded attendees that local caregivers’ and clergy members’ “service to humanity is service to God.”

The Reverend Mel Kawakami, senior pastor of Newtown United Methodist Church, joined Ms Woodall recognizing his colleagues across the Interfaith Clergy Association who remain “tied together in tragedy.”

In his brief remarks, he recognized many professions from medical practitioners, psychologists and psychiatrists, to the staff at local hospitals and even the many comfort dogs that have provided invaluable recovery services in the community over the past two years.

Reflecting on the faith and spirit of municipal officials and elected public servants during the hours and days immediately following the Sandy Hook School shootings, Reverend Jack Tanner of Newtown Christian Church “hoped there was a book to prepare us for this experience, but there was not.”

Lacking any real guidelines on how to respond, Rev Tanner said he and his colleagues endeavored, “as far as we could, to reach out and touch the hearts and minds” of community members and political leaders, alike.

Before reading part of a Biblical letter from St Paul to Timothy, Rev Tanner talked about making several trips to the local municipal center to offer support to town workers, recognizing that “They have needs and they have hurts.”

Rev Solomon then returned to the podium, turning his attention to First Selectman Pat Llodra, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, who were in attendance, acknowledging “they too are in need” of spiritual support, and praying they are blessed with “wisdom beyond their own resources,” as they continue their own individual and collective support to the community.

“You have served with truth, grace, conviction and compassion,” Rev Solomon said, in their efforts “to make the world better.”

Closing out the speaking program, Deen Kemsley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was joined by the Reverend Matt Crebbin, senior pastor of Newtown Congregational Church, UCC. Mr Kemsley recalled driving around town earlier in the day, “trying to find words to cope.” In his reading, he noted that, “The Lord has received the little ones that we know one by one, and one day, we will each have a joyful reunion with each of them.”

Rev Crebbin closed offering a prayer for the entire Newtown community, “…our beautiful town, our lives forever altered.” He called for community members to “care for one another in the midst of our grand diversity,” to “reach out to those caught up in the bonds of isolation, ” and to continue building “a community that refuses to give in to violence of all kinds.”

As the service ended at precisely 7 pm, all the voices within the meeting house joined together in a closing song: “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour … for the living of these days.”

This report was updated correcting the name of the presenter representing the Al Hedaya Islamic Center.