Knoxville Church Sanctuary Redidicated a Week After Shooting

From the Tennessean:

Members of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church rededicated their sanctuary Sunday as a place of love, despite the tragedy unleashed there a week ago when a man opened fire with a shotgun and killed two people.

"Beyond the fear that will not subdue us, we reclaim and share this, our worship space," said Brian Griffin, director of religious education. "We are safe; we are together; we are loved, and so it will be."

Community members packed the sanctuary, and others watched a telecast in an overflow room nearby during the rededication.

The Rev. Chris Buice said the slaying of Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger triggered "unspeakable amounts of love." The shootings occurred during a children's performance of the musical Annie.

Sometimes the worst of circumstances bring out the best in people, and it appears this was one of those occasions.

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"A man tried to divide us into liberals and conservatives, gay and straight. Instead his actions united us," Buice said.