Area churches respond to Castile shooting

Two churches near the scene of this week's police shooting of Philando Castile in Falcon Heights have announced services in response to the incident.

The public is invited to a "service of prayer and lament" at 5 p.m. Saturday at Falcon Heights United Church of Christ, 1795 Holton St. In music, readings and ritual, clergy will aim "to bring the community together in prayer and witness in the police shooting of Philando Castile." For more information, call 651-646-2681.

At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Faith United Methodist Church in St. Anthony will host a gathering to address issues of race raised by the shooting. An announcement on the church's website said the event aims "to share stories of how racism has affected us and to repent of our complicity in systems of racism in the United States."

The church is at 2708 33rd Av. NE. The event is organized by the Minnesota Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church.