Natick Comes Together in Moment of Loss Through Candlelight Vigil

As people throughout the Commonwealth and beyond mourn following the Boston Marathon bombing on Monday, a crowd of Natick residents gathered on Natick Common last night to hold an Interfaith candlelight vigil to reflect on the reflect on the recent tragedy and pray for those who have been affected.

"The central value of Natick is community," Rev. Ian Mevorach of the Common Stree Community Church said after the event. "It has that small town feel. All the leaders are collegial. A lot of things happen on the common. So many people in Natick are working on good things. It's amazing how everything came together so smoothly through a chain of emails."

The event was organized by several Natick clergy members and town officials, and began with some opening remarks by a few of the clergy, including Vicky Guest, the Pastor at the First Congregational Church, who said in part, "We want to take it back."

The clergy then led members of the community on a walk down E. Central St. as they held candles despite the wind attempting to keep the candles from staying lit. The crowd crossed in front of the police and fire departments as a sign of thanks to the first responders who helped so many people.

When the crowd circled back around Natick Common and returned to where they started, the clergy spoke again.

"It's really helpful to come together and gather," Rev. Jon Strand of St. Paul's Episcopal Church said to the crowd near the beginning of the event. "It's really important to do something with our grief. Please take those steps."

Strand explained that what they would be doing was people would be silent and then one-by-one people would have the opportunity say something outloud in the format of "this is my prayer," followed by everyone responding "this is our prayer."

People who spoke outloud said various things, but it may have best been summed up by the simple prayer of one woman, who said, "For an end to violence."

Other prayers were for a future safer for their children and for more kindness and love.

"Bless them with hope to prepare for the days ahead," Rabbi Neal Gold of Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland said.

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