Erie Faith Community Honors Victims of Connecticut Shooting

    Congregations put it all on the line and spent Sunday reflecting on the tragedy...

"You need people to band together.. Use faith, prayer and all that kind of stuff to get through it because right now anger isn't going to get us anywhere," says Grace Church Parishioner Joe Romanowicz.

"Having gone through the tragedy of losing a child, my heart was broken because I understand the grief and pain," says Grace Church Parishioner Katrina Smith.

     A list of the 26 victims killed in the tragedy was displayed on a large screen at Grace Church on Grubb Road in McKean.... Parishioners were told to pick a name off the screen...think.... and... Pray....

"I think we talk too much of the tragedy and pray too little and we become addicted to opinions... so you'll see all this spouting off about all kinds of things, causes and blames... the initial call is to pray, " says Derek Smith, Lead Pastor of Grace Church.

    Derek Sanford the Lead Pastor of Grace Church says the Sandy Hook tragedy hit home for him as well as many of his parishioners...

"A lot of our folks have kids... 6 and 7 year olds. So, it becomes very personal and if we can embody empathy and sympathy we can pray more affectionately."

Msgr Biebel of the Erie Catholic Diocese says it's important to take the time to reflect and think about the lives lost in this tragedy.

"Time with God's grace can bring comfort to people hurting.  They're hurting bad and the church knows that and we're praying for them..."

     President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Newtown, Connecticut today to meet with families of those who lost loved ones... and to thank first responders.

    He will also speak at an Interfaith Vigil set for 7 pm. ABC News will air a special live report.