Eighty people gathered on Sunday 19 June as Auckland Rainbow Community Church held a memorial service for the Pulse nightclub shooting. During the service there was a telling the story of the terrifying events of that night in Orlando, a reflection on those deaths and the role that faith based homophobia may play in inciting violence. Helen Jacobi, vicar of St Matthew in the City, said of churches “we need to work faster and harder on getting rid of our ridiculous prejudices and rules that exclude.” The names of each person killed were read out. St Matthew in the City was quiet as candles were lit and the organist played Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings. During the service people added their names and a message of hope to a large calico banner. This will be sent to Orlando as we join with the international outpouring of grief for the tragedy in that city.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd June 2016 - 11:25am