The Newberry Opera House did not have an empty seat available, as everyone came together to sit and pray as a community.

Nine community members, each from different backgrounds, stood on the stage, holding a photograph of one of the victims. The vigil was organized by the Rev. Wayne Pratt and Stephanie Lake.

Local clergy come together to conclude Monday night’s vigil for Charleston by saying a benediction.

Community members locked hands with those beside and behind them during Monday night’s prayer vigil for the Charleston victims who lost their lives and their families.

New Vision Ministries opened the service in song.

The community gathered together in the Newberry Opera House performance hall Monday night in prayer and to worship God.

Rev. Dr. Charmaine Ragin, district 7 elder of the A.M.E. Church thanked the community for coming together saying the Lord wanted us to come together every now and again, rather than only in the wake of tragedy.

The Wightman United Methodist Church praise band concluded the service in song.

NEWBERRY — Nearly 600 people gathered at the Newberry Opera House on Monday night to participate in a prayer vigil in remembrance of the nine victims of loast week’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting.

The vigil was relocated from Memorial Park to the Performance Hall after inclement weather moved into the area late Monday evening. The Performance Hall can hold 430 people and Mayor Foster Senn said at least 150 people stayed in the lobby to listen to the event over the sound system.

Nine community members, each from different backgrounds, stood on the stage, holding a photograph of one of the victims. The vigil was organized by the Rev. Wayne Pratt and Stephanie Lake.

“Today we remember those victims — Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Reverend Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Tywanza Sanders, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lee Lance, Rev. Daniel L. Simmons, Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor and Susie Jackson,” Senn said to the overflowing crowd.

Prayers and readings were offered by pastors and reverends of different Christian denominations. Rep. Walt McLeod and Sen. Ronnie Cromer spoke and music was provided by New Vision Ministries and the Wightman United Methodist Church praise band.

The common theme of the night came from the crowd, which came together not as strangers, but as children of God.

McLeod said his thoughts and prayers were with the people who died at Mother Emanuel. He said he only knew one of the victims, Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was also the pastor at the historical Charleston church.

“We arrived at the Statehouse together before he graduated to the Senate. He was a handsome guy, had a soft and very strong voice. When he spoke, you had to listen,” McLeod said. “It was my pleasure to serve in the Statehouse with him.”

McLeod told those in attendance that all of their lives would have been enriched had they known the victims.

“Sen. Pinckney and the other victims will become martyrs for love, Christian unity and faith. We will have better lives than we have now,” he said. “Good things are going to come about because of this terrible tragedy.”

Of the nine victims, Cromer knew only Pinckney, having served with him in the Senate for 12 years, and called him a good friend. Cromer said Pinckney got along with everyone in the Senate.

“I know if he was here, he would be forgiving of the young man, because that was the type of man he was,” Cromer said. “He was a gentle giant with a booming voice.”

Cromer said he has been most impressed with how the families of the victims and South Carolina as a whole have reacted. He said he commended the gesture of forgiveness the families of the victims extended to Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old who has been charged with nine counts of murder in the shooting.

Pastor Albert Allen of First Baptist Church in Newberry offered prayer during the vigil.

“We come with broken hearts in this space tonight, broken hearts, but not broken spirits,” Allen prayed. “We ask you God to heal the hearts of the nine families. It is not about politics, government or about symbols. It is about your church and your people. Darkness of evil gives lightness of gospel power. Satan sews destruction, you reap opportunity.”

The Rev. Ertha Bowman of Miller Chapel A.M.E. prayed for God to speak healing to the families and to speak forgiveness to Roof’s family.

The vigil ended with words from the Rev. Dr. Charmaine Ragin, preceding elder of the A.M.E. 7th District. She thanked those who attended for coming together, for praying and for keeping the A.M.E. church on their minds.

“Truly, one faith, one Lord, one baptism. Lord wants us to do this every now and then, rather than when tragedy comes,” she said. “Give thanks to God from all of you.”