Front Royal church bells ring, candles lit, for gun violence victims

Photo public domain by U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman George Goslin

Four Front Royal churches have come together this week to pay tribute to those affected by the recent gun violence in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas. At 1 p.m. each day this past week bells of the sponsoring churches – First Baptist, Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran, Front Royal Presbyterian, and Calvary Episcopal – have pealed 31 times, representing each of those killed in the Ohio and Texas mass shootings.

The view across the First Baptist Church parking and park area across West First Street from the church where Sunday evening’s Candlelight Vigil will take place. Royal Examiner Photos/Roger Bianchini

The tribute will culminate with a Candlelight Vigil at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, August 11, at the First Baptist Church parking lot and park area at West First Street and North Royal Avenue.
On Sunday evening participants in the candlelight prayer vigil will sing, pray, offer readings and light candles not only for those affected by the recent gun violence, but for the victims of the 255 shootings that the churches say have occurred in the nation the past 218 days of this year.

“This, what we are doing, it is not about politics – it is about working together to end gun violence in the nation and our communities. It is also, apart from the victims, about the parents and the children, the families directly affected by the violence … it is about working together to end this senseless violence in our country,” Carrie Evans of Front Royal Presbyterian said of the Sunday vigil.

Above, a First Baptist Parking sign at West First Street side of lot and park area; and below a view back from inside the benched portion of the park toward the church on North Royal Avenue

Evans is one of four female pastors of the involved churches – the others are Valerie Hayes, Calvary Episcopal; Ingrid Chenoweth, Evangelical Lutheran; and Christy Goodwin, First Baptist.

In a leaflet proclaiming the “Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence” the pastors of the four churches wrote, “Join us as we seek strength and courage and work together to end gun violence in our nation and communities.”

Vigil candles will be provided for the outdoor ceremony.