The Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association is sponsoring an event Sunday night titled, “an Interfaith Gathering for Prayer and Comfort” to commemorate the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting. The service will be held in the Meeting House on Main Street at 6 p.m.
As part of that service that is open to the public, faith leaders from the various Newtown religious communities will guide the community by reading from sacred texts, offering prayers and allowing times of silence for people to engage in their own personal reflection or prayer. For more information about that service, call 203-426-9024.
The association has also released a letter to the community related to how faith communities will respect the anniversary. This includes listing of the various faith institutions and services planned that day.
Dear Newtown Neighbors, Friends and Loved Ones,
As faith leaders, we come from a variety of religious communities that are diverse in faith and practice. However, we want you to know that we are united in our commitment to offer care and compassion to all of Newtown. With the two year Anniversary of the traumatic events at Sandy Hook School coming up on Dec. 14, we want to make you aware of worship and other gatherings that our many faith communities are offering. It is our hope that one or some of these gatherings might be helpful to many of you as we all continue to grieve, seek support and find comfort on this journey of sorrow and hope.
As part of our many activities, we have decided to offer an Interfaith Gathering for Prayer and Comfort on the evening of December 14th.. The service that is open to the public will be in the Meeting House at 31 Main St. at 6 p.m.
We also want to let you know that each of us is available and committed to assist anyone, as best we are able, if you have specific individual needs or concerns.
The Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association
John and Margo Woodall – Baha’i Community of Newtown
Rev. Rob Morris – Christ the King Lutheran Church
Rabbi Shaul Praver – Congregation Adath Israel
Rev. Kathy Adams-Shepherd – Trinity Episcopal Church
Rev. Robert Weiss – St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church
Rev. Leo McIlraith – Lutheran Home of Southbury
Pastor Tim Kuhn – Faith at Newtown
Rev. Jack Tanner – Newtown Christian Church
Deen Kemsley – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Rev. Jim Solomon and Hiram Orama Jr. – New Hope Community Church
Eman Beshtawii – Al Hedaya Islamic Center
Rev. Mel Kawakami – Newtown United Methodist Church
Rev. Matt Crebbin and Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold – Newtown Congregational Church, UCC
Anniversary Gatherings Offered by Newtown Faith Communities
St. Rose Roman Catholic Church (46 Church Hill Rd.)
St Rose will be remembering the community in all its aspects at all our Masses that weekend:
Saturday Dec. 13 at 4:00 and 5:30
Sunday Dec. 14 at 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 and 5:00
The 10:30 Mass will be our special remembrance Mass. Names will be read prior to Mass and bells tolled. The Franciscan Bells of Remembrance will be brought from Washington DC once again and will be available to be rung throughout the weekend by anyone who chooses to stop by. Weather permitting; a candle grove will be set up in front of the Mary shrine for folks to stop and light a candle. For more info: 203 426-1014
Trinity Episcopal Church (34 Main St.)
Sunday, Dec, 14th – There will be one Service at 10:00 a.m. which will include prayer, music, silence, Eucharist and the lighting of candles for remembrance and comfort. The service will also include the celebration of Gaudete Sunday on this the Third Sunday of Advent.
All families and individuals present will leave with a candle to put in their windows to continue to shine God’s light into the world. The service will be followed by a pot-luck breakfast together with comfort dogs, music and art therapies for children and youth. The Church will be open all day for prayer. For more info: 203-426-9070.
Newtown Congregational Church (14 West St.)
Dec. 14 – At our 10:00am Worship will include music, prayer and the lighting of candles to remember, comfort and encourage one another as we continue to seek the hope, peace and joy offered by the coming Immanuel. Immediately following our gathering there will be a time for fellowship (including Fidelco Dogs) and refreshments in the Great Room. The Sanctuary will be open all day for personal prayer and reflection. For more info: 203 426-9024
The Newtown United Methodist Church (93 Church Hill Rd.)
Dec. 14th With services at 8 and 10 am on 12/14, the third Sunday of Advent, we will be praying for all those affected in a litany of remembrance at both services. For more info: (203) 426-9998
Christ the King Lutheran Church (85 Mt. Pleasant Rd. – Rte. 6)
Sunday, Dec. 14 at 9:30am - Decorate cookies and posters for all the Newtown Schools, Board of Ed., and Police Department
10:30am – Divine Service: Children’s Christmas Pageant of Lessons and Carols 6pm – Maggie and Newtown Comfort greet attendees at Interfaith Prayer Gathering
7pm – Service of Prayer and Remembrance For more info: (203) 426-6300
Faith at Newtown (4 Riverside Rd.)
Dec. 14 at our Morning Worship service at 10 am, Faith at Newtown will have a time of silence and reflection, with prayer for the 2 year anniversary. For more info: 203-364-1448
Al-Hedaya Islamic Center (115 Mt Pleasant Rd.)
Dec. 14 at 10:00am - We will start with a prayer for all the effected families and the Jewels we lost that day followed by a 30 minutes lecture about violence awareness by our Imaam Brother Jesse. We will have community Brunch at 11 AM. From 12 PM to 4PM Al-Hedaya is offering Free Henna tattoos, bangles (bracelets), Exotic Teas from all over the world and food for Newtown families to help them with the healing process and celebrate life with us.
Newtown Christian Church (210 Sugar St.)
Dec. 14 at 10:00am There will be time set aside during our morning worship service to remember and pray for the families and town. For more info: 203 426-6189
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (16 Saw Mill Rd.)
Dec. 14 at 1:00pm – At this regular service we will be remembering through prayer and sacred hymns. For more info: (203) 270-7684
An interfaith public gathering will be held Sunday at