BUFFALO, N.Y. — Several churches in Buffalo's east side community will be holding prayer services Sunday in honor of the victims killed in the mass shooting in Buffalo.
True Bethel Baptist Church is holding services at 8:30 a.m. They are located at 977 East Ferry Street in Buffalo.
Elim Christian Fellowship, located at 70 Chalmers Avenue, held a service at 8:30 a.m.
St. John's Baptist Church at 184 Goodell Street held a worship services beginning at 9:30 a.m.
A vigil was held at 9:30 to mourn and remember the victims of Saturday afternoon's shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Ave. in Buffalo.
Members of Voice Buffalo, Stope the Violence Coalition, the Buffalo Peacemakers, and others gathered near the store at 9 a.m.
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church held a service at 11:30 a.m. They are located at 237 E North Street in Buffalo.
A 3:30 p.m., Bishop Sean Rowe of the Episcopal Dioceses of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania, will lead a virtual prayer service on Zoom and Facebook Live. Details are available on the Episcopal Dioceses website.
Pastor Julian Cook from Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting a citywide interfaith prayer service at 4 p.m. with religious leaders from across the City will be in attendance.
In light of Saturday's shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, a local church is asking for the community to come together in prayer.
Rev. Dr. Todd Leach, a Senior Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, issued the following note Saturday evening:
Dear Westminster Community,
Details of the horrific shooting within our Buffalo community have not yet been completely revealed, but the news thus far proves to be nightmarish. What we do know at this point is that a beautiful Saturday turned tragic as scores of our neighbors experienced an evil atrocity by one person with a gun, who apparently had an evil mission to steal the lives of the innocent.
We certainly need more than thoughts and prayers, but I believe these can be a beginning. Tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 5:00 PM we will gather in the sanctuary to offer a prayer service. I encourage you to attend so we may lift our neighbors in prayer as we commit ourselves to journeying alongside them. Together, may we live more fully into our motto of being a city of good neighbors.
See you in church and in the community,
Todd
Buffalo Police told 2 On Your Side that in all, 13 people were shot Eleven of the victims are African American, two are white. Four of the victims were store employees, they said. A spokesperson for ECMC said two of the survivors have been discharged and the third is listed in stable condition.