Vanderbilt’s Office of Religious Life will sponsor a Service of Silent Remembrance for the university community on Monday, Jan. 14, one month after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
Benton Chapel will be open throughout the day for students, staff and faculty to drop in for prayer or silent meditation, to light an electric votive candle to leave on the altar, and to share written condolences and notes of sympathy in a remembrance book that eventually will be sent to the people of Newtown.
“Because religious communities seek to remember those who have suffered loss and continue to bear the pain and trauma of the recent past, we are especially mindful of all the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14,” said The Rev. Mark Forrester, university chaplain and director of religious life at Vanderbilt. “We hope this service allows students and others in the community the opportunity to pause, reflect and give heartfelt expressions of sympathy and support to the people in Newtown.”
Monday’s planned service follows a similar event held Dec. 21, one week after the shooting. On that day, Vanderbilt also joined in a national moment of silence, and the Kirkland Hall bell tolled 26 times, once for each victim of the tragedy.
Students seeking assistance dealing with the tragedy should contact the Psychological and Counseling Center at 322-2571 or the Office of Religious Life at 322-2457.
Faculty and staff seeking assistance should contact the Employee Assistance Program at 936-1327 or the Office of Religious Life.