Community Corner
Prayer Vigils and Services: Response to the Boston Marathon Bombings
Constantly updated: how and where you can join in prayerful response to Monday's carnage at the Boston Marathon finish line. And if it's not listed here, add your own.
For some, a prayer vigil or service is a way to gather with others and spiritually support the bombing victims, the city of Boston — even the perpetrator/s.
For others, it is a way to seek answers — or peace, in the face of unsettling evil.
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Or even just share quiet company with others or with God.
Patch is gathering a list of all the prayer services and vigils in response to the Boston Marathon bombings. Below is a list of vigils and services being held and open to the public; we will be adding to it all day. If we don't have it listed here, please add your own to the comment section below:
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Acton:
Where: First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, 353 Great Road at the intersection of routes 117 and 62, next to the Randall Library
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
What: Vigil service of candle lighting, sharing, meditation and prayer remembering those killed and injured at the Marathon. This will be an opportunity for people to come together and share their fears, their pain and their hopes. All are welcome.
For more: Call 978-897-8149 or visit www.fpc-stow-acton.org
Andover:
Where: Unitarian Universalist Congregation
What: Meditation and prayer vigil
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FC4
Arlington:
Where: Ed Burns Arena
When: Noon Wednesday, April 17
What: A 2.9-mile run/walk to honor the victims of Monday's bombings
For more: http://arlington.patch.com/articles/run-to-honor-boston-marathon-victims-at-noon-today
Attleboro:
Where: All Saints' Episcopal Church
When: 12:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Tuesday
What: Prayer service
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fgr
Belmont:
Where: First Baptist Church of Belmont
When: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17
What: Will be open for quiet prayer and candle lighting
For more: http://belmont.patch.com/articles/belmont-s-first-baptist-holding-candle-light-vigil-today
Billerica:
Where: The Common in Billerica Center
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
What: The churches and faith communities of Billerica will gather for a time of prayer for peace and healing
Boston:
Where: Corner of Berkeley and Boylston Streets by the make-shift shrine on the barriers at that end of Boylston
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
What: Trinity Church, still locked out of its Copley Square building, will be gathering for prayers for peace
Where: Cathedral of Holy Cross in the South EndWhen: 11 a.m. Thursday, April 18
What: Interfaith service vigil; President Obama will participate
Where: St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center, 100 Arch Street
When: 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 19
What: Interfaith Prayer Service to thank first responders for their unselfish, courageous and compassionate care for the victims, as well as help heal the spiritual wounds of all. Open to everyone.
For more: mmacdonald@stanthonyshrine.org
Where:
When: Noon and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
What: Church services with a healing response to the events. The church is also open for tours; during tour hours, people are also invited to come in for quiet prayer and contemplation.
Where: Arlington Street Church
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
What: Vigil
Where: Old West Church United Methodist
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Vigil
Where: The Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, across from the Boston Common
When: 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. Tuesday
What: Interfaith prayer vigils
Burlington:
Where: Temple Shalom Emeth
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 19
What: Shabbat service conducted by Rabbi Abramson and Cantorial Soloist Ben Silver will contain prayers and reflections on this tragedy
Chestnut Hill:
Where: St. Ignatius Church, located on the edge of the Boston College campus at 28 Commonwealth Ave.
When: 5 p.m. Tuesday
What: A "Mass of Healing and Hope;" all members of the BC communtiy are invited. University President William P. Leahy will celebrate the mass and a sacramental anointing for healing will follow the service.
Charlestown:
Where: Eden Street Park
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
What: Vigil. Candles will be provided by the Mishawum Park Tenants Association. For more information, call Sean at 617-784-4519.
Concord:
Where: First Parish
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Vespers service
Danvers:
Where: United Methodist Church
When: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
What: The church will be open for those who would seek a place of peace and prayer.
Where: Maple Street Congregational Church
When: All day Tuesday until 6 p.m.
What: Chapel will remain open to the public today to provide a quiet place for reflection
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fjg
Where: Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Special prayer service is open to the public for a time of prayer and reflection
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FRc
Easton:
Where: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
What: Prayer vigil for Boston Marathon runners, participants and police
For more: http://easton-ma.patch.com/events/prayer-vigil-for-boston-marathon-runners-participants-and-police
Framingham:
Where: On the steps of the Memorial Building, 150 Concord St.
When: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 18
What: Town-wide vigil to honor and remember the deceased and injured spectators and runners of the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. Also to recognize and honor all the police/fire/EMS and civilians who ran into the chaos to help render immediate medical attention and help save lives. All are invited to come together as a community and show support for the victims of Monday’s tragic events.
Hingham:
Where: South Shore Baptist Church
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
What: “Prayer for Boston;” anyone is welcome to attend to pay tribute to Monday's victims and their families.
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F3X
Where: St. Paul Parish
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Special Mass; all are welcome to come and pray together
Hopedale:
Where: Hopedale Unitarian Parish
When: 6pm - 7:30 p.m. tonight
What: Sanctuary will be open for an informal gathering of meditation, prayer, candle lighting and sharing
Jamaica Plain:
Where: Hope Central Church
When: 6:30-7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Singing for and with us, songs of peace
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FGT
Where: First Baptist Church
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
What: Vigil on the front lawn, sponsored by the JP Clergy Association
Lexington:
Where: Grace Chapel
When: 7-8 p.m. Wednesday
What: All are invited to stop by and join us in prayer for the victims, their families, and loved ones affected by the bombings, as well as the caregivers and medical staff still hard at work treating the victims.
Lynnfield:
Where: Messiah Lutheran Church
When: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17
What: The church will be open for prayer; a brief service of spoken prayer will take place at 7 p.m.
Marlborough:
Where: New Hope Community Church of the Assemblies of God & Mirav Church (both at the same location, 204 Main Street)
When: 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
What: Prayer vigils
For more: http://marlborough.patch.com/articles/praying-for-victims-vigils-tonight-for-boston-in-marlborough
Where: First Church in Marlborough Congregational UCC
When: 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, April 17
What: The church will be available for individual prayers and silent reflection from. The pastor will be there too in case folks want someone to pray with.
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fyl
Medford:
Where: The Congregational Church of West Medford
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Prayers, candles, songs of peace and love - all welcome
Where: Grace Episcopal Church
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
What: Prayer service
Melrose:
Where: Clarence DeMar Memorial at Ell Pond Park
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, April 27
What: Ceremony, wreath laying
For more: http://patch.com/A-3GV4
Milford:
Where: Trinity Episcopal Church
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Interfaith prayer service
For more: http://patch.com/E-wHjB
Milton:
Where: Gazebo on the Town Green
When: 7 p.m. tonight
What: The Milton Interfaith community will hold a vigil. All Milton residents are invited to attend
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F3K
Natick:
Where: Natick Common
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17
What: Candlelight vigil
Newton:
Where: Newton City Hall War Memorial -- outside on the steps
When: 6:30m p.m. Wednesday
What: All residents are welcome to attend tomorrow night's vigil to "come together as a community and show support for the victims of Monday’s tragic events"
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F1b
Where: Storyheights Church, 400 Heath St.
When: 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 21
What: Regular service we will be honoring those lost and hurt
For more: info@storyheights.com
Where: Andover-Newton Theological School
What: 20-minute prayer service to be held on the quad
When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday
For more: https://www.facebook.com/andovernewton
Where: St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Newton Highlands
What: Taize Eucharist Peace Vigil
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
For more: http://patch.com/A-3DTv
Where: Temple Shalom, Rothman Chapel
When: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday
What: Clergy members will be available for anyone who wishes to come talk, pray or even just sit silently in the midst of community. The Sanctuary will also be open and available for quiet meditation
North Andover
Where: St. Paul's Episcopal Church
What: Personal time for prayer
When: Wednesday, all day, starting at 9 a.m.
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FC4
North Reading:
Where: Trinity Evangelical Church, 105 Haverhill St.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, April 19
What: Prayer vigil
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F9m
Norwood:
Where: Charles River Running; meet in front of the store
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16
What: Three-mile run to remember the victims
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F8s
Osterville:
Where: United Methodist Church, 57 Pond St.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Interfaith prayer service and our door will be OPEN TO ALL
Peabody:
Where: South Congregational Church
When: 4-8 p.m.; 6:30-7 p.m. Tuesday
What: The church will be open from 4-8 p.m. to anyone looking for a quiet place to pray and reflect on the tragedy. A prayer service will be held from 6:30-7 p.m.
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F4V
Reading:
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading
When: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday
What: The doors to the Sanctuary located will be open; comfort and tea will be available.
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fz9
Salem:
Where: Salem Common
When: 6:45 p.m. Thursday
What: Salem Stands With Boston — With "Last Mile" run at 6:45 p.m. and candlelight vigil at 7:15 p.m.
For more: http://patch.com/A-37xK
Where: Grace Episcopal Church, 385 Essex St.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What: Candlelight prayer vigil
For more: http://patch.com/E-wJfT
Sharon:
Where: Temple Kol Tikvah
When: 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesday
What: The temple will open its doors for a prayer space
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fb5
Where: Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
When: 24/7
What: A place for a time of quiet and prayer
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fb5
Where: First Baptist Church of Sharon
When: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
What: Quiet prayer
For more: http://patch.com/A-3Fb5
Stoneham:
Where: Stoneham Town Common
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
What: Vigil in support of Stoneham's Boston Marathon terror attack victims
For more: http://patch.com/B-dnD5
Stoughton:
Where: First Congregational Church of Stoughton
When: Wednesday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
What: Sanctuary will be open to light a votive candle and offer a prayer for all those affected by this tragedy
Sudbury:
Where: St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
What: interfaith prayer service in response to the Boston Marathon tragedy. Clergy from different faith communities in Sudbury will lead the service and will be available for pastoral care. Come and pray for the broken.
Swampscott:
Where:
What: Interfaith prayer vigil
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
For more: http://patch.com/A-3DNf
Tewksbury:
Where: Tewksbury Congregational Church sanctuary
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
What: Prayer and conveastion 6-8, gathered time of prayer from 7:30-8 p.m. All are welcome.
Waltham:
Where: Our Lady Comforter of The Afflicted Parish
What: Community prayer service
When: 5 p.m. tonight
For more: http://patch.com/A-3DFS
Where: Saint Mary Parish
What: Mass service
When: 12:10 p.m. Tuesday
For more: http://patch.com/A-3DFS
Where: Redeemer Fellowship Church
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
What: We'll sing together and spend time praying for one another and our city. All are welcome.
Wayland:
Where: First Parish Wayland
When: 4-6 p.m. Wednesday
What: "Come for the quiet, for the communion with others, light a candle if you wish," the announcement reads. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by yesterday’s events."
For more: http://patch.com/A-3F6L
Where: Trinitarian Congregational Church
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17
What: Prayer vigil: "This service is open to our entire community as we gather for prayers, readings, and songs," the announcement from TCC reads. "Feel free to invite friends and family as we process these significant events in the life of our community together."
Westborough:
Where: First United Methodist Church
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
What: A time for prayer
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FhD
Where: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
When: 7 p.m.
What: Special service of prayer
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FhD
Where: Congregational Church of Westborough
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
What: A service of mediation and remembrance
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FhD
Where: Chapel of the Cross
When: Regular Sunday service
What: Service will be re-formatted to address this tragedy
For more: http://patch.com/A-3FhD
Brookline:
Where: United Parish Church
When: Noon Tuesday
What: Prayer service
Please add yours to the comment section below.
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