Standing with Orlando

An interfaith candlelight vigil was held in Springfield Wednesday night and close to 70 people came out in support of the victims of a mass shooting in Orlando.

   

2016-06-16 / Front Page Springfield Church hosts interfaith candlelight vigil for victims of mass shooting. By Tory Jones Bonenfant toryb@eagletimes.com Cornish resident Will Reed was one of close to 70 people who came out in support of the victims of a mass shooting in Orlando at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield on Wednesday night. Reed raises his candle for hope in the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. — D.F. DASCENZO Cornish resident Will Reed was one of close to 70 people who came out in support of the victims of a mass shooting in Orlando at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield on Wednesday night. Reed raises his candle for hope in the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. — D.F. DASCENZOSPRINGFIELD — Close to 70 members of the community came together on Wednesday night in Springfield to show their support, unity and compassion following an attack that took the lives of 49 nightclub patrons at Pulse in Orlando. “I hope that there is never another Orlando,” said Rev. M’ellen Kennedy. She asked the visitors to think about what keeps them grounded and rooted through tragedies such as the attack in Orlando. “Music? Nature? Prayer? The ocean? Poetry or art?” she asked. “What is it for you? Because we need it. We are surrounded by this sickness that is trying to be imposed on us … we can say no. We can refuse to hate,” Kennedy said. The prayer vigil and worship service, which included choir music and guest pastors, took place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, at the Springfield Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC), with Kennedy presiding. “How do we make sense of this?” asked Kennedy. “I know the absolute, vast healing power of love. It is so much bigger than one disturbed individual, even though he did great damage.” She also encouraged visitors to pay attention to all the acts of peace being done, rather than giving attention to negative or violent acts. Whatever one’s religion, race, or sexual orientation, “it doesn’t matter - we are one humanity,” she said. Omar Mateen is accused of killing 49 people on Sunday, June 12 at the nightclub in Orlando, described in news reports as a popular gay club with approximately 320 visitors at the time of the shooting. Orlando police then shot and killed Mateen, all according to CNN reports. This vigil was organized by area clergy and congregations including Springfield UUC, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, First Congregational Church, Black River Sangha Buddhist Group, and North Springfield Baptist Church. It included several songs sung by all guests, and a hushed performance by a church choir. All were welcome to participate and to bring a banner if they wished. A rainbow flag decorated the altar and brightened the back of the meeting room. Above the altar, a banner hung with the symbols of nine different faiths. The youngest person in the room was 9-month-old Summer, who attended with her mother, Lindsay Post of North Springfield. “I have several family members who are members of the LGBT community, and I consider myself an ally,” Post said. “I want to hold space for the people who lost their lives.” The Rev. Jean O’Bresky, who is the pastor at the First Congregational Church in Springfield, was one of the speakers at the vigil. O’Bresky said the reason she wanted to take part was to unify people in love, “because ultimately, love is stronger than hate.” “This is the worst mass shooting in our country and we’re all shocked by it. And our hearts are breaking,” she said. “Whenever there is a tragedy, it’s good to be together because isolation only makes matters worse.” With voices that are “stronger together,” people can bring swift action in bringing an end to all hatred and violence, she added. Some pastors wore crosses; others wore rainbow stoles in support of the LGBTQ community. O’Bresky, in a bright rainbow stole over her robe, spoke on a solemn, personal note to the guests gathered at the vigil. “Since Sunday, I’ve been crying, because it was my people, our people, who were slaughtered senselessly by a madman with such hatred for himself and others,” she said. She thanked those taking part for helping to “show the world that indeed, love is stronger than hate.” Bob Allman of Saxtons River said he attended the vigil because he thought Kennedy could use some help, and he wanted to be a part of the program. Guests came from Springfield and from neighboring communities including Rockingham and Ludlow and nearby areas. Will Reed, another clergy member from Cornish, said he too wanted to help. Following the worship service, guests were given small, white candles, and helped each other to light them, singing “A Song of Peace,” a song that has the word “peace” in three languages: English, Arabic and Hebrew: “Peace, Salam, Shalom.” “The global response to this tragedy has been an outpouring of love,” Kennedy said. A march scheduled for Wednesday evening at the church has been postponed to a later date.