PEEBLES, Ohio — The Rev. Phil Fulton hadn't yet finished his sermon Sunday morning.
"There are no words. I have no words for this,'' said Fulton, before he left his home for Union Hill Church's 10 a.m. service. "There are no words to comfort them."
A man of the Bible for more than 43 years, Fulton just couldn't find the right words. He looked inward and outward. He looked to Psalms and to Proverbs. He can recite those verses. But they still don't seem enough. They just don't seem quite right.
The church is just down the road from the scene of the mass killing that left eight members of a family dead and this tight-knit community stunned, scared and looking for answers amid its beautiful rolling hills and farmland dotted with livestock.
Bobby Manley found members of her family shot to death in three different locations when she went to feed her sister's chickens and dogs Friday morning. Later that day and in the days since, a fourth crime was discovered and legions of state crime-scene investigators have scoured the area for clues, manned the phones for tips and followed leads as they interviewed dozens of people in perhaps the region's most heinous crime in its history.
He said that's what a church does. It is a refuge, a shelter, a safe haven in a dark storm.
And it was that mystery that plagued Fulton as he turned to the scriptures for solace and inspiration for a congregation looking to him for guidance as it has since Friday morning. They have turned to him and his church for answers to a crime that doesn't make sense, even to this man of God. Authorities remained tight-lipped about the investigation Sunday, but have earlier said they don't have a motive or suspects in the slayings.
When Fulton stood at the altar at 10 a.m. and looked out at 100 or so parishioners he raised his hands, he had found a word: Prayer.
Prayer would lift them, he promised them. He told them he expects good to come from this tragedy. Even if, he said, no one can see that yet.
"We can hope that lives will be changed ... that things like this will be averted,'' he said. "We need to pray. Pray for the family. Pray for law enforcement, for their protection, wisdom and insight — that they will find the perpetrator.
"A mother holding her 4-day-old baby in her arms, who would do that? Only evil would do that,'' he said referring to Hanna Rhoden, 19, who was fatally shot. Her days-old baby girl, Kylie Rhoden, was found alive, as were two other children, a 6-month-old boy and a 3-year-old.
Bud Brabson, an elder in the church, took to the altar and led the congregation in a series of songs that started with Amazing Grace.
Several members of the congregation wiped tears away as a baby cried between choruses.
A woman stood after several hymns, sobbing to offer her testimony to Fulton and Dennis Ward, who provided the morning sermon.
"This has been heartbreaking for everyone, for every woman I know. All I can think about is those kids,'' she said, at times barely unable to speak. "This is a perfect time to call on the Lord ... I just love the Lord.''
Tessa Swayne, Fulton's sister-in-law and the church elementary youth leader, knew Dana Manley Rhoden and her three children, Frankie Rhoden, Chris Rhoden and Hanna Rhoden. All four were killed. Swayne said she used to pick up Frankie, Chris and Hanna for church.
"I loved those kids. I hope I touched them in some way,'' said Swayne as she started crying.
At the end of the 75-minute service, Fulton told the congregation to look to God as their anchor and to his grace.
"Eight precious souls went to meet the Lord,'' he said. "Now they are in God's hands ... eternity is just a breath away."
Follow Chris Graves on Twitter: @chrisgraves
