Communitywide memorial for Charleston victims set in Youngstown on Monday

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

In response to the recent shooting deaths of nine people inside the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., a communitywide interfaith memorial service is planned Monday morning in Youngstown.

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Youngstown and Vicinity and the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches, along with other area community faith leaders, will host the community prayer and memorial service Monday to honor the lives lost from the attack at the historic worship center last Wednesday.

The prayer vigil will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Reed’s Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1939 Jacobs Road, on Youngstown’s East Side.

The service will incorporate prayer, reflection, Scriptures, song and a lighting of candles. The entire community is invited to attend this event.

Participants will include the honorable Bishop George Murry of the Youngstown Catholic Diocese; the Rev. P. Robert Tate, presiding elder of the Youngtown District Conference the African Methodist Episcopal Church; Rabbi Oresky of Ohev Tzedek-Shaarei Torah, youth of the Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past and other area clergy offering various prayers among others.

Rev. Gwen Johnson is the host pastor.