December 2, 2009

CHICAGO – Christ Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Wash., and Trinity Lutheran Church, Tacoma (Parkland), Wash., have scheduled special services Dec. 6 in remembrance of the four Lakewood police officers who were killed Nov. 29 in an ambush at a Parkland coffee shop.

None of the four officers – Sgt. Mark Renninger, Officer Tina Griswold, Officer Ronald Owens and Officer Greg Richards – or their families were members of either congregation.

Christ Lutheran will hold "A Service of Lament, A Service of Hope," said the Rev. Ralf Kalms, pastor. The congregation will light candles in honor of the police officers and their families.

The fatal shootings happened on a Sunday morning. The congregation included the officers and their families in prayers at worship, Kalms said.

The Rev. Kristi Hanson Kreamer, pastor, Christ Lutheran, said Lakewood is a small community, and many residents knew the officers and their families. "It's definitely hit a very personal nerve here," she said in a phone message.

Trinity Lutheran Church has scheduled a service of hymns, prayers and readings for members and the Parkland community, said the Rev. Timothy J. Stewart. The theme of the service will be "Christian Hope in the Face of Violence," he said.

At least two additional public memorials are planned for the four police officers, Kalms said. A community memorial is scheduled for Dec. 2 in Lakewood, and a second memorial is planned for Dec. 8 at the Tacoma Dome. Some 20,000 police officers and citizens are expected to attend, according to news reports.

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), Tacoma, Wash., one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, held a candlelight vigil Nov. 30 for the four slain officers. Prayers for the officers were included at a chapel service earlier in the day.

PLU President Loren J. Anderson urged students, faculty and staff to stand in solidarity with the families, friends and colleagues of the four officers. He urged them "to work together as a community to find ways that we can contribute, ways that we can express our sympathy and care, ways that we can show support for all who daily take risks and serve, new ways that we can help to build a community of opportunity for all," according to PLU's Web site.

The suspect in the murders, Maurice Clemmons, was fatally shot by a Seattle police officer Dec. 1 following an intensive manhunt in the area.

ELCA News Service