Grace, hope, love, change, solidarity, and forgiveness were recurrent themes as members of Newtown’s interfaith community addressed a crowd of approximately 175 people at the #NewtownRisingForCharleston vigil, held Sunday evening, June 28, at Newtown United Methodist Church (NUMC).

The 7 pm service of song and prayer to honor the nine lives lost June 17, at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., when a young man gunned them down at a Bible study meeting, began more than half an hour before that, with individuals solemnly waiting in line to add their names to a large orange banner that had been laid out in the narthex. Kara Fitzgerald, of Moms Demand Action, said the banner would be sent later this week to “Mother Emanual” AME Church, as a sign of Newtown’s support.

The Sunday vigil was organized by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Everytown for Gun Safety, and supported by Newtown Action Alliance, Sandy Hook Promise, the Danbury Chapter of The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and Connecticut Against Gun Violence.

According to a release by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, “The weekend event is part of a larger effort, #RisingforCharleston, in which people of faith and communities around the country will honor those who were killed at Emanuel AME — and the 88 people who die from gun violence every day and the hundreds of others injured by gun violence every day in America.”

The groups expected National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath events to take place in eight US cities during the past weekend.

Speakers at NUMC on Sunday were Rev Mel Kawakami, senior pastor of NUMC; Chaplain Eman Beshtawii of Al Hedaya Islamic Center; Rev Leo McIlrath, The Lutheran Home of Southbury; Rabbi Shaul Praver; Dr John Woodall of the Baha’i Community; Rev Jack Tanner, Newtown Christian Church; Elder Richard Wilford, Enduring Life Ministries; Rev Kathleen Adams-Shepherd, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church; Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church; and Senator Richard Blumenthal, US Senate.

“Tonight we gather once again as an interfaith community drawn together by the shadow of violence … We gather for those slain at Emanuel AME, as a people who choose love,” Rev Kawakami said in opening remarks. “We once thought schools were safe, houses of worship were sacred… We remain a people of faith. We come together in prayer,” he said, to be the beloved community, nation, and world that has found God’s peace.

An inward focus, an upward focus to God, and on the night shooter Dylann Roof joined members of Emanuel AME in prayer, an outward focus, as well, was that of those at AME, welcoming anyone to prayer, said Rev McIlrath.

“We pray to our God upward and inward, as we pray for all,” he said, following scripture readings in Latin and English.

Rabbi Praver said it was a time to show unity.

“We come to show our solidarity to AME,” said Rabbi Praver. “From Sandy Hook and Newtown, we are saying to you, Charleston, we are with you. Unfortunately, we have experience in these matters. We cry a river for your slain,” he said, before offering the Hebrew Memorial Prayer. “Pure and equal treatment of all is their legacy… There is no death,” he said, “just transformation.”

Subtle messages of the need for stronger gun laws and attention to the issues of race that remain prevalent in this country came from more than one speaker.

Dr Woodall urged fellowship, love, unity and oneness of humanity in his words to those gathered in the pews and balcony of the Church Hill Road house of worship Sunday evening. He noted that from Nadine Collier, mourning the loss of her mother in Charleston, there were words of forgiveness.

“We heard her grace; words of healing not just for her, but for the nation. To forgive is not to condone mayhem…. But to approach with the power to heal,” he said. “America’s original sin is racism. Charleston is pregnant with the power of grace.”

Dr Woodall was adamant of the need for “urgent and long overdue conversations on race,” and to first “get the heart right…. The loss of these faithful souls in Charleston calls us to affirmative action. Color is not important… the heart is important.”

“Truly, with every hardship comes ease… turn your direction toward your lord,” was translated from the Muslim Scripture sung by an Al Hedaya cantor. Chaplain Beshtawii of the Al Hedaya Islamic Center reflected on the tragedy, saying, “We feel Charleston as we feel Newtown… We feel for the nine victims. We feel pain and frustration on top of pain and frustration that never left.” A decision must be made, she said, to bring about change.

Love for all, was the message given by Rev Adams-Shepherd, as well as the need for discussions to compel all to advocate for change.

“Let us pray for the victims, but work hard for the living… Turn hatred to love… Let us bury hatred. ‘We Choose Love’ is not just a magnet to put on your car,” she admonished those in attendance.

For those seeking an answer to the eternal question of “Why?”, Rev Tanner assured that “God is on the side of life, not death,” adding his prayers to trust in God, and that one day, death will be no more.

Solemnity turned to quiet tears for several in the congregation, as Sen Blumenthal read the names of each who perished at Emanuel AME. Elder Wilford lit a candle as each name was spoken, followed by the chiming of a bell.

“Far more important than anything I have to say, are those names,” said the senator. “When I first heard [about the shootings at Charleston], my mind went back to the day here in Newtown when we saw evil visit this community … both places sites of sanctity and safety … I hope our nation will do more than grieve,” he said.

His hope, said Sen Blumenthal, is that the nation will now act to prevent gun violence, pledging to rededicate his efforts. America is the greatest, strongest nation, he said, but freedom, liberty, and greatness is threatened by hatred and the kind of violence seen in Charleston.

“I hope we harness the outrage, hope, love, and prayer to make this nation safer and better,” he said, “and truly make God’s word our own.”

“Be part of a unity that proves we love one another,” prayed Elder Wilford. God encourages us to forgive, which is hard to do, he said. “None of us is perfect. We need to put down our stones ... [the Charleston shooter] needs forgiveness… Embrace true love and unity,” he pleaded.

“We remember them,” intoned the 175 voices together as Msgr Weiss read several intercessions, from “In decisions difficult to make,” to reminders that those lost to death are in each breeze. “As long as we live, they, too will live,” he said, and commended each of the nine Charleston victims to God’s care. “Strengthen the bonds of our community,” he prayed.

No matter the language in which prayers were offered, no matter the faith of those present, the strength and hope of all was apparent as congregants joined hands one to the other, and across the aisles, singing “We Shall Overcome.”

“Turn our hearts toward justice… our hands toward the work of peace,” prayed Rev Kawakami. “Go, in grace.”