"This community stands together in solidarity with the community of Charleston, South Carolina," Esther Lee said. "We come together, praying as we open our hearts, to join with people of the world and those who continue to hate."

Lee, the president of the Bethlehem NAACP chapter, was one of 12 speakers at the June 24 prayer vigil held for the nine victims of the recent shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

The vigil at the St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Bethlehem was sponsored by the local NAACP chapter.

Lee invited the attendees to express their sorrows with prayers, expressions, scriptures and songs. Sheets of paper were passed around the packed church, printed with the words to hymns, including the words to "They Met to Read the Bible." Sung to the melody of "Beneath the Cross of Jesus," the text was changed "In memory of the 'Charleston Nine.'"

Throughout the vigil, the speakers focused not on feelings of anger at the young man responsible for this tragedy, but rather feelings of hope that it will bring racial problems in the United States to light prompting necessary solutions.

"This act, which was done in an effort to separate us, divide us and start a race war, has failed. Rather than separate us, it has brought us all closer together with a mission: to find out what happened and find out what's wrong with our country today so we can no longer see acts like this," said Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio.

The Reverend Edward Thompson of the Second Baptist Church of Bethlehem said that the first step to fixing the problem DiLuzio spoke of is to acknowledge that learned racism is at its root.

"When we were kids, it used to be that 'sticks and stones would break our bones but names would never hurt us.' Biggest lie. It's called racism," Thompson said. "If we're going to fix a problem, if we're going to heal, then we've got to understand what the problem is. The problem is racism, that it's being taught from childhood on."

The prominent message shared by the speakers and left with those attending was the importance of showing compassion to other humans and trusting in their faith.

According to Bishop Hopeton Clennon of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, faith and compassion are always options.

"We have choices," Clennon said. "We can take a path that seeks revenge, that perpetrates hate, that seeks to get even with those who have done us wrong. Or we could choose a path that highlights trust and faith that we have ultimately in God and that we will learn to discover in each other.

"If we light a candle here in Bethlehem," he continued, "maybe we can shed light on finding a path that leads to more trust in God and strengthening the love that we have in each other."

The Reverend Clinton Bryant of St. Paul Baptist Church in Bethlehem also participated in the service, along with the Reverend James Jackson, Jr., pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in Bethlehem; Laura Lawrence of the Baha'i faith; the Reverend Lester Wilson, presiding elder of the A.M.E. churches; the Reverend Melvin Tatem, pastor at Grace Deliverance Baptist Church in Bethlehem; the Rev. Daniel W. Brettell, pastor of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fountain Hill; Millie Nelson, Bethlehem NAACP vice president; and Winston Alozie, minister of music at St. John A.M.E. Zion Church.

Unity was one of the reasons why many of the people filled the church's pews and additional folding chairs. Presbyterian chaplain Sue Bennetch of St. Luke's in Bethlehem said she attended show solidarity, especially since she was not able to travel to South Carolina.

"I think that unity and solidarity are very important," said Jake Glessner, another memberof the vigil audience. "As a white male, we need to really get a glimpse of what others' experiences are like."

After the service, Lee said that although she is still mystified by people's reluctance to recognize the race problem, she was pleased with the turnout of the vigil.

"There are people in Bethlehem who have come from surrounding areas who are sympathetic with the cause and the slaughter and massacre in Charleston," Lee said. "Their attendance showed they are in sympathy as we are and that was impressive. We are going to have to continue to sit in conversation about the things that are happening in our city and the world. So our NAACP will continue to call for forums and sessions for people to reduce that - the hate that exists in the world."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Realted items appear in this week's opinion section.