Director of Religious Education Director Brian Griffin helps Sia Matthews light the chalice for the church's rededication service.
A spontaneous altar has developed around the TVUUC sign in front of the church.
Sunday's worship leaders link arms and hearts near the conclusion of Sunday's worship service.
Overflow Crowd Helps Re-Sanctify Knoxville Church Following Violence
August 4, 2008
The minister and congregation of Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) rededicated their sanctuary in an emotional service Sunday morning, only a week after a man with a shotgun killed two people attending a service there.
Rev. Chris Buice, who serves as the congregation's minister, led the overflow crowd in resanctifying the space where TVUUC board member and usher Greg McKendry and a visitor from the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church (WUUC), Linda Kraeger, died. Six other people were injured in the attack.
Sia Matthews lit the flaming chalice with Religious Education Director Brian Griffin, who has been lauded for his work on July 27 in helping get children out of the church when the attacks occurred. "We are safe," Griffin said at the beginning of the service. "We are together. We are loved. And so it will be."
The congregation sang "Spirit of Life," which has become a Unitarian Universalist (UU) musical statement of faith, and later, "May Nothing Evil Cross this Door," a hymn affirming the safety and love that should be part of all worship spaces. Rev. Bruce Southworth, Minister of Community Church of New York City, who grew up in TVUUC, led the congregation in a responsive reading adapted 1 Corinthians: 13.
Former ministers and officials of the national Unitarian Universalist Association joined the congregation at the service, including former Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) president Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, who was minister at TVUUC in the early 1980s. Buehrens reminded the congregation of its proud history in standing up for civil rights and social justice issues; Thomas Jefferson District Executive Annette Marquis remarked on the resilience of the congregation and reminded the congregation that they "are not alone."
Former minister Rev. Lynn Thomas Strauss led the congregation in meditation, and, following the singing of the hymn, "Bring Many Names," current minister Rev. Chris Buice offered a homily on the rededication and the strength of the congregation.
"God of many names, known in the spoken word and most profoundly in unspoken silence, we say with you and in you and through these simple words, 'We reclaim our sanctuary,' " Buice said. "This sanctuary, which has been defiled by violence, we rededicate to peace. This holy place, which has been desecrated by an act of hatred, we reconsecrate for love. This sacred space, which has seen death, we recommit to life. The holy spiritual home, which has known fear, we rededicate to faith and freedom."
The service was interrupted several times by applause and standing ovations, and the congregation stood continuously during the final minutes of Buice’s homily.
At the end of his reflection, Buice stood on the spot where the violence began as the congregation once again sang, "Tomorrow" from "Annie, Jr.," the musical that was being performed when the shooting took place.
TVUUC member Bill Dockery contributed to this story.
Last updated on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
