Vigil for the Tree of Life Synagogue and All Acts of Hatred and Violence

Gathering Music

“Only Love”

Darkness cannot drive out darkness
Hatred cannot drive out hate (x2)

Only love, only love, only love can do that, only love!

Time of Silence

Welcome

Mark Miller

Mourners’ Kaddish

Rabbi Deb Smith

Psalm 121:2

Time of Silence

Congregational Reading

Psalm 23

God is my shepherd, nothing shall I want
You make me lie down in green pastures,
lead me beside still waters,
you restore my soul.
You guide me along the right paths
for your name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ritual of Remembrance

We invite you to take a piece of paper and write your prayers for those injured and killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue. When you are done, please bring your prayer forward and leave it in the bowl on the altar. While you are there you may pick up a rock to take back to your seat with you. When everyone has added their prayer to the altar and picked up a rock we will process outside to complete the ritual. There we will leave our rocks at the root of a tree and sing a closing song. 

“I Choose Love”