Cathedral Holds Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence

by | Dec 16, 2014

[Washington National Cathedral] A Prayer Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence was held on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Washington National Cathedral. The interfaith vigil marked the second anniversary of the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Presented by Faiths United against Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, the Newtown  Foundation, and Washington National Cathedral, the service was the flagship vigil among more than 195 vigils in 35 states across the country last week.

Victims and family members of gun violence gathered at the cathedral from more than 18 states and the District of Columbia to remember those lost and injured by gun violence, to give visibility to the more than 60,000 gun violence deaths in the United States since the shooting in Newtown in 2012, and to re-commit to the urgent work of stemming this national epidemic.

According to recent statistics, there have been at least 95 school shootings, including fatal and nonfatal assaults, suicides, and unintentional shootings, since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. In the two years since Newtown, there has been nearly one school shooting per week.

Participants included victim family members, community and organizational leaders,  and interfaith leaders. Music was offered by the choir Mosaic Harmony and by composer/pianist Doug Hammer and cellist Velleda Miragias. The Rev. Matt Crebbin, senior minister of Newtown Congregational Church, offered the Prayer of Gratitude and Grace.

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and the Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral, hosted the service.

This article was originally published by Episcopal News Service. Photos provided by Washington National Cathedral.