WASHINGTON -- The mass shooting in California has intruded on a normally festive event in Washington - the annual lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree.
House Speaker Paul Ryan asked for a moment of silence and for prayers for the multiple shooting victims at a Southern California social services center.
Before throwing the switch illuminating the tree on the Capitol's west lawn, Ryan said "I hope it will be a reminder throughout this Christmas season that even in the darkest of times, God is there and He is good."
The speaker added, "For those of us who are Christian, he gave us his only son."
After a countdown, the 74-foot Alaskan spruce was lit and the United States Army Band performed "O Christmas Tree."
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Did you know?
God is everywhere—even in the news. That’s why we view every news story through the lens of faith. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1.
Support CBN News
