As congregations across America and beyond prayed Sunday for those lost during Friday’s shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the folks at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz felt a close connection to the tragedy.
One of Idlewild’s own, Christine Carmody, lost a niece during the massacre, according to My Fox Tampa Bay.
Rachel Davino, 29, was a teacher's aide at Sandy Hook, who loved to cook, her grandmother, Nicoletta Davino, of Waterbury, Conn, told USA Today, and the two would share Italian recipes, Newtown Patch reported.
Davino, who lived in New Britain, would also make tomato sauce when she visited each year, the elder Davino said.
"It's not only tragic but for us at Idlewild personally, it's close," Idlewild’s senior pastor, Ken Whitten, told My Fox Tampa Bay. "Christine, a member of our church, will be flying out tomorrow (Sunday), flying to Connecticut to be with her family and her siblings.
"[Sunday] we will pray especially for Christine," Whitten added. "But we'll be praying for all of the victims of this senseless tragedy.”
Prayers were spoken on behalf of all those lost in Friday’s shooting, which ultimately claimed the lives of 20 children, ages 6 to 7, and seven adults; the gunman included.
Families affected by the Newtown shootings are just beginning to announce funeral plans, according to Newtown Patch. Plans for Davino’s funeral have not yet been announced.
A number of efforts have begun to help the families and to remember those lost in the shootings. Newtown Patch has an article that highlights all the different relief efforts being undertaken.
Would you like to share thoughts about Friday’s tragedy or words of solace for the survivors? Post your sentiments in the comments section.
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