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Note #6581 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Presbyterians hold prayer service for victims of Oklahoma City bombing
June 10, 2001
GA01025

Presbyterians hold prayer service for victims of Oklahoma City bombing

State opposition to capital punishment/McVeigh execution

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE, June 10 - With the first execution to be carried out by the
federal government since 1963 only hours away, about 75 Presbyterians
gathered for a prayer service to state their opposition to capital
punishment, the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and to
remember his victims.
The solemn observance in the chapel of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Center here lasted 45 minutes with prayers, hymns and a pledge to remember
the 168 people, including 19 children, who lost their lives in the April 19,
1995, bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building in the deadliest act of
terrorism on U.S. soil.
McVeigh, 33, was convicted of murder and condemned to die for the act. He is
scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection at the U.S. Penitentiary in
Terre Haute, Ind., at 8 a.m. EDT Monday. The PC(USA) is opposed to capital
punishment.
The Rev. Kathy Lancaster, associate for criminal justice, called the prayer
service one of "hope." It was held by the denomination's Office of Theology
and Worship and the PC(USA)'s Social Justice Ministries Program area.
"Powerful God, today we pray for the 168 victims of the Oklahoma City
bombing," said the Rev. Chris Moore-Keish, pastor of Henryville Community
Presbyterian Church in Henryville, Ind. "(Let) your loving kindness heal the
wounds that bind us to the broken hearts of the families of the victims. We
pray for Timothy McVeigh, who himself will die in the execution. And we
remember his family and friends …"
The gathering was attended by Presbyterians, clergy and national staff
members during the denomination's 213th General Assembly held primarily at
the nearby Kentucky International Convention Center. The service joins
scores of other similar proceedings that were held across the nation prior
to Monday's scheduled execution.
At the Presbyterian Center, a handful of speakers took turns reading the
names of all 168 blast victims. After 20 names were recited, those attending
replied, "We will remember."
Among the prayers, Bible versus and hymns recited during the service were:
Psalm 130, Matthew 5:43-48, "Hope of the World" and "What Wondrous Love is
This."
"We come to worship the God of compassion, even in the midst of a world
where there is so much cruelty," said Lancaster, with participants replying,
"We gather to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ once more, though we are
aware that we often lack the courage to speak words of truth and love in
daily life."

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