NEWTOWN, Conn. (WordNews.org) Dec. 15, 2012 – As a community and nation mourns the deaths of 20 children and six adults killed at the hands of a 20-year-old, who then took his life, ministries are reaching out to offer help.

Police say Adam Lanza, 20, went on a killing rampage yesterday morning at Sandy Hook Elementary School in what is described as the worst shooting at an elementary school in U.S. history.

Last night, hundreds attended a memorial service at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church to mourn the lost. Pastor Msgr. Robert Weiss turned the parish into a haven for families.

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A prayer tribute to the victims of Newtown tragedy

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At nearby Trinity Episcopal Church Rev. Kathleen Adams-Shepherd shared that children who were  members of the congregation had been killed.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be the same,” she said.

“There are no words,” the Rt. Rev. James Curry said in the prayer service, according to media reports. “There is nothing that we can say but instead we cry out. We cry out in shared grief and pain for the loss of so many children, so many adults …. We do not understand, and we cannot imagine why someone would murder. We cannot comprehend.”

The Christian Emergency Network encourages all Christians to begin what it calls the “Prayer-Care-Share Biblical Response.”

First, pray for those directly affected by this incident: the students, the parents, the staff at the school and the first responders, cited Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Second, follow Romans 12:15’s call to “weep with those who weep. CEN said many people will be confronted with the vulnerability of their safety and security following this incident. Listen with an open heart and allow people to express their concerns and their fears. Empathize and pray with them as they seek to understand that which can’t be understood.

Finally, share the hope we have in Christ with others. Many people will question why and how something like this could happen. While we may never fully understand, we know the One who knows all hearts and loves people more than we ever could.

To aid in situational awareness, CEN has created an online response group to supported those impacted by this incident.

Tim Clinton of  the American Association of Christian Counselors, offered the six T’s for helping kids through trauma:

* Togetherness. This is a time where your kids need to have you close.

* Touch and tenderness. Touch is an expression of affection that reinforces proximity and closeness.

* Talk. The questions will come: “Will a shooter come to my school?” Be present, sensitive, and don’t offer pat answers. Engage them in age-appropriate discussion.

* Truth. Fears of the unknown can paralyze us. Anchor their hearts in truths like, “Not everyone in the world is bad. You’re safe now. God loves us and is close to us.” Remember, our kids absorb us. Your mood, thoughts, and actions directly influence theirs.

* Triggers. Someone screaming. A door slamming. A siren. What children experience or see on the news can deeply affect them. Don’t let your kids get overdosed with the news stories and all the gory details.

* Time. Don’t rush or ignore this process.

“Our children are not immune to the darkness and brokenness of our world,” Clinton said. “We may think that if we ignore this incident, our kids won’t know about it or feel the impact. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our kids need parents and teachers — those who have influence in their lives — to be emotionally present and invested, especially in moments like these.”