ELCA News
Oct. 1, 2015
ELCA congregation to hold vigil in Roseburg, Ore.
Faith Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Roseburg, Ore., will hold vigil Oct. 1 at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) following a shooting at Umpqua Community College there. A gunman opened fire on campus, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 20 others.
“I have not heard from any students – the names of victims have not been released. We have one teacher at the school who is a member of Faith Lutheran, and she is OK,” said the Rev. Jane C. Baker, pastor of the congregation.
“Roseburg is a small community of 21,000 people. We’re not near any major city, and there’s not another ELCA congregation within 70 miles from here,” said Baker. “But we have a presence here.”
Baker said an invitation has been extended for the community to attend the vigil, including ecumenical and faith partners. “We gather this evening to be with one another and to pray for families, students and everyone involved,” said Baker. “Tonight we look to God. No one else has the words for this now.”