First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo will host a community prayer service in solidarity with the people of Norway on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The church is located on 4th Avenue, north of the corner of Hostmark and 4th, two blocks up the hill from downtown Poulsbo. The service is open to the public.
The service will feature scripture readings, meditation and prayer. Organizers ask participants to bring a flower, a tradition in Europe, “as we grieve with the people of Norway.”
Dozens of people were killed in two attacks in Norway on July 22: an explosion outside a government building in downtown Oslo, and a shooting attack on a nearby island. Police say 76 people were killed, according to a revised death toll reported in the Global Post.
Anders Behring Breivik, 32, of Norway was arrested. The Global Post reported he made his first court appearance Monday at a closed hearing in Oslo. He has confessed to both attacks, but denied he had committed any crime.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who led Norway in a minute of silence for the victims of the attacks, called the attacks the deadliest in Norway since World War II, according to the Associated Press.
On July 23, Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson sent a condolence letter to the Royal Norwegian Embassy and asked the local Sons of Norway lodge to lower its flags.
Erickson’s letter:
To the Citizens of Norway,
We, in the City of Poulsbo, send our deepest condolences regarding the tragedy that occurred in your country on Friday, July 22, 2011.
Our community has strong ties to Norway. Many of our residents emigrated to Poulsbo from your country and consider Norway their historical home.
We call Poulsbo “Little Norway.”
We are deeply saddened by the events that unfolded on Friday.
I have requested our local Sons of Norway lodge to lower their flags in remembrance of those that have been taken from us in this tragic event.
Respectfully,
Becky Erickson
Mayor
City of Poulsbo
State of Washington, United States of America
