1200 mourn families killed in Alaska plane crash

The Rev. Harrison McLeod, of Christ Church, talks about the Antonakos and McManus families after a memorial service at Christ Church in Greenville on Friday, July 12, 2013.

Friends and family mourned the loss of the Antonakos and McManus families of Greenville, S.C., during a memorial service on Friday, July 12, 2013. (Photo: Mykal McEldowney, Greenville (S.C.) News)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- About 1,200 friends, family and fellow parishioners of two families killed in a plane crash in Alaska turned out Friday to say goodbye and to try to put the tragedy in perspective of their faith.

The Rev. Harrison McLeod, rector of the Christ Church Episcopal in downtown Greenville, reminded the mourners of God's faithfulness as portrayed through the stories of the Bible.

"But we gather here this morning and we hear the story of God's mighty works in salvation history and we hear the names of those we love but see no longer, and we ask in our own generation that ancient question: 'Can God be trusted?'"

Like the rainbow after the flood in Noah's time, the manna sent to feed the Israelites fleeing from bondage in Egypt and the Resurrection of Christ, the lives of the nine, McLeod said, "were a sure and certain sign and a symbol, a sacrament that God would never grieve or afflict his children."

Melet and Kim Antonakos and their children Olivia, Mills and Ana, were killed along with Chris and Stacey McManus and their children, Meghan and Connor, in the crash Sunday while on a vacation trip together, but the rector assured the congregation that they still live.

Authorities have not determined the cause of the crash.

The nine "called us to be the very people God created us to be," McLeod said. "They loved the God who loved them and by their love and by their lives they themselves have reassured us, even in the midst of our grief, that the answer to the question we have all be asking is yes."

"Even in the midst of the burden of grief, our loved ones look down upon us this very day and as living witnesses tell us from their place in paradise that indeed it is true, our God can be trusted."

The church bell tolled nine times.