TODAY'S SERMONS. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will attend church services in Charleston and in metro Atlanta as churches hold their first Sunday services after Wednesday massacre. Visit AJC.com and MyAJC.com today for updates.
The last time people gathered at here inside “Mother” Emanuel A.M.E. Church, a gunman tried to break its spirit and cause a race war by brutally murdering nine of her members, including the pastor Clementa Pinckney.
On Sunday, in the spirit of defiance and love, Emanuel A.M.E., as has been the case for more than a century, will be open for Sunday services.
Church members reported Saturday afternoon that they would open at 8:30 a.m. with Sunday school, followed by services at 9 a.m.
As people continued to gather outside of the church in the days and evenings following the shootings, the lingering question became when would the church – which was essentially a horrific crime scene – re-open.
Mother Emanuel trustee and city councilman William Dudley Gregorie said church leaders met Friday afternoon to discuss what would happen Sunday. The Charleston Police Department finished its investigation Saturday morning and crews worked to clean the church.
Along with Pinckney, church members killed were Ethel Lance, Cynthia Herd, Sharonda Coleman Singleton, Tywanza Sanders, Susie Jackson, Dapayne Middleton-Doctor, Myra Thompson and Daniel Simmons Sr.
On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered outside of Mother Emanuel again. Hundreds will try to get into the services, which will be open to the public. Just like it was Wednesday.
At 7:45 p.m. Sunday, organizers are expecting more than 3,000 people to create a “unity chain” on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge pedestrian walk to create a message of solidarity. The chain will span the length of the bridge and connect downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant.
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