A community prayer vigil will be held on Wednesday, October 4, from 5-6 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Topeka at 817 SW Harrison in downtown Topeka.

Sandra Stogsdill Brown, lead pastor at the church, said the prayer vigil is in response to a request from a church member who came to her in distress over the news of five-year-old Zoey Felix who was raped and murdered last night. This member pointed out that survivors and victims of sexual assault who hear the news will be re-living their own traumas in the days to come, and asked if the church would host a prayer vigil to show support.

“We gathered just days ago as a community for World Communion Sunday and the message was very much one of the need for all of us to love our neighbors and support each other, especially when something like this happens. The community prayer vigil is one small way to live that out,” said Pastor Brown.

The vigil will begin on Wednesday with participants gathering at 5 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Remarks and prayer will begin around 5:15 p.m. There will be special music, as well as moments of silence, and prayer candles will be available to be lit by those wishing to say a special private prayer. Advocates from the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment will be on hand to provide extra support for anyone who needs it.

This event is open to all in the Topeka community who would like to gather to hold victims and survivors in prayer.

RSVP to the Facebook Event Here