Diocesan Churches Hold Vigils/Services Following Emanuel AME Tragedy
St. Michael's, Charleston, is joining with First Baptist Church and this Sunday will bus parishioners, following both their 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. services, to Mother Emanuel AME to surround the church in prayer. St. Philip's, Charleston, parishioners will be joining this event following their 11 a.m. service. Groups are expected to be at Mother Emanuel at noon and 7 p.m.
The Church of Our Saviour, Johns Island, will open its chapel for prayer, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. today through Saturday. The services will be open to people of all faiths and denominations. There will be a special book of condolences that will be bound and sent to Mother Emanuel AME Church next week to offer a written prayers and messages.
St. John's, Johns Island, is joining with churches from the Sea Islands for a community prayer gathering on Saturday, June 20, at noon at Johns Island Park.
The Church of the Holy Trinity in Grahamville will host a service of prayer and remembrance on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church (ACNA), located at 91 Anson Street, Charleston, will be holding a prayer vigil on Saturday, June 20 at noon.
Parishioners from Holy Comforter, Sumter will be participating in a community Prayer Vigil on Saturday, June 20 at Jehova Missionary Baptis Church in Sumter. Parishioners are to meet at Holy Comforter at 5:15 p.m. to carpool.
Holy Apostles, Barnwell is hosting a community prayer service for Emmanuel AME, the families of the victims, the City of Charleston and the Body of Christ on Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.
The following notice was included to parishioners at St. Michael's, Charleston, from Rector, the Rev. Al Zadig. This Sunday, June 21, 2015, worship at all services will include time for prayer, petition and reflection. Tool Time in the Kinloch Room at 9:15 am will be led by The Rev. Dr. Peter Moore, Frank Grimball and Sherif Yacoub, responding to the tragedy.
At 10:00 am, everyone is requested to come out to Meeting Street under the bell tower. With hand bells you bring from home, ring with our tower ringers and every tower in town as we show solidarity with Mother Emanuel AME Church. (Bring bells of any kind to church!) The cash in the offertory at all services will go by the Mayors request to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fundto help out the families affected. After the 10:30 am and 6:00 pm services, the congregations of St. Michael's, St. Philip's, and First Baptist Church (Church Street) will be transported to Mother Emanuel for prayers around their church. Dress coolly! Water and bus transportation will be provided. Through this process I have had the opportunity to get to know the Rev. Dr. John Gillison. Pastor Gillison is the former Senior Pastor at Mother Emanuel and he has agreed to preach here at St. Michael's within the next couple of weeks.
If your church is holding a special service or remaining open, let us know and we will include the information on our website.
