Mon
Jul 28 2008
10:15 pm
Where there is light there is hope
By: bill young

I just left the candlelight service.
The minster said where there is light there is hope.

When the minster was ask if he thought the individual
that did this horrific deed was going to hell.

The minster's reply was:This man has been in a living hell
on earth for many years.

At the end the young people of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church lead us in singing

"Tomorrow"...Very moving.

"Give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death to guide our feet
into the way of peace."

To the UUs who I know & those who I met tonight

Brothers & Sisters

Peace be with you.
reform4's picture

I was very moved

Submitted by reform4 on Mon, 2008/07/28 - 10:51pm.

The room was filled not just with members, but people from all over Knoxville. When the hands went up for who was from other congregations, the huge number of non-congregation members in attendance (easily more than half) hands drew applause from the UUers.

The President of the UU Congregation from Boston spoke, the high points being:

* We may feel anger, but we are also filled with understanding and compassion
* This will not change who we are and what we believe
* There is power in the community that has been forged out of this tragedy, and we should not let it go away

The surprise ending? The kids came out to sing "Tomorrow", the song they didn't get to finish in their production.

"When you're faced with a day that's grey and lonely
I just stick out my chin and grin and say
The sun will come out tomorrow
...
Tomorrow... you're only a day away."

Thank you Chris, Mitra, Rosemary, and William for filling us with hope on this day.

Farmgirl's picture

KNS has posted the audio of

Submitted by Farmgirl on Mon, 2008/07/28 - 11:18pm.

KNS has posted the audio of "Tomorrow"

I found it here...on the left side of the page under the pictures of some of the victims

(link...)

Stan G's picture

It was indeed a meaningful

Submitted by Stan G on Tue, 2008/07/29 - 9:09am.

It was indeed a meaningful service with a moving finale, which one would hope is a first step rather than a closure. The more I read about Greg McKendry’s life, the more I see it as an example of how we might move forward as a community.

Being a sometimes outspoken critic of the current city administration, I found it somewhat symbolic that I found myself sharing the path to the service with Bill Lyons and the same path away from the service with Mayor Haslam.

sugarfatpie's picture

I will always remember that moment...

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2008/07/29 - 9:34am.

standing there in the back and hearing the kids come out with "Tomorrow".
I'm so glad that I have this to remember now instead of the awful fearful, alone feeling I had Sunday morning when my wife called to tell me about this. Weeping in the produce section at Fellini Kroger is not a memory I want to take to my grave.

We need more moments like this to help us heal, ... to somehow make us stronger. Maybe that same production of Annie at a larger venue?

I also agree with others on Knoxviews that we need a community wide discussion about hate-media. It needs to be sponsored by the City/County. Both mayors need to speak.

We need action, from concerned citizens as well as local govt that addresses our vulnerability to hate-media without scaring away people who want to move/stay/return here.

We could start with a drive to support more understanding and inclusive programming on local AM stations.

-Sugarfatpie

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

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