‘A Strong Church of Prayer’ Mourns Victims of Shooting
Some walked hesitantly up the sun-washed sidewalk. A few used sunglasses or veils to shield teary eyes. Still others marched into the church with poker faces, heads high, eyes straight ahead.
But come they did, to reclaim Wedgwood Baptist Church just days after a shooting rampage left eight dead and seven wounded.
Over the front door hung a banner: “Let the healing begin.”
The service opened with a prayer “that many may be saved by the lives and deaths of these martyrs.”
“Praise the Lord,” cried the Rev. Al Meredith, taking the pulpit to waves of applause. Behind him, the choir stood in crimson robes. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say we were having church today.”
Packets of tissue were scattered throughout the sanctuary for the church’s first service since gunman Larry Gene Ashbrook burst into a Wednesday night youth rally and opened fire.
“We’re a strong church of prayer,” Brian Page said after the service. “We’ll all survive.”
Later in the day, more than 10,000 people flocked to a community memorial service at Amon Carter Stadium on the Texas Christian University campus. Texas Gov. George W. Bush attended the service at TCU but did not give a speech.
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