Arlington Community Remembers Charleston Victimsf
By Grayson Stidham
Posted on June 24, 2015, June 24, 2015

Articles-Prayer-Vigil

It was a time for mourning for some and an opportunity for reconciliation for others at Monday night's prayer vigil held at the College Park Center at UT Arlington for the nine shooting victims at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.

Singing songs of praise and old hymns, those in attendance commemorated the lives of the nine victims.

Pastors of churches all across Arlington gathered together as they led the procession of the night, offering words of support and hope to those standing in the audience.

"It's always hard, that it takes tragedy to bring us together," said the Co-Senior Pastor of Fielder Church Jason Paredes. "I promise you, just to see the people gathered here who showed up in the city saying I want to do something at UTA, just gives me great hope for the future of what can happen."

Calling everyone to link hands together, the Rev. Michael Glaspie offered up a prayer for the audience as all stood side by side with one another.

Many could be seen as well, bowing their heads in prayer during the choir's performance as they listened to the songs and took in its messages.

In concluding the night, Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams closed with words of condolence for the AME Church and the victims of the tragedy.

Mayor Williams was later joined by Pastor Kennedy Jones of Greater Community M.B.C. who finished the vigil with the benediction.

"I enjoyed when they asked us to hold each other's hands," said UT Arlington student Nicole Umphenour. "It emphasized us being one community and made it much more powerful."

Among some of the churches who participated and were in attendance were First Baptist Church of Arlington, St. Andrews U.M.C., Mount Olive B.C. and First Christian Church.

The vigil recognized and commemorated the lives of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Rev. Daniel Simmons, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Myra Thompson, Cynthia Hurd, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Tywanza Sanders.

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