Presiding bishop calls for reflection, commitment to peace
Episcopal Church and other religious leaders are planning interfaith events to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when almost 3,000 people perished after hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The Executive Council, at its June meeting, invited all Episcopal communities “to open the doors of their institutions” during the Sept. 10-11 weekend to commemorate the anniversary “with acts of prayer and remembrance, service, creativity, interfaith cooperation, education, community building, and fellowship, offering our institutions as active, accessible sites of healing for our local communities.”
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in an Aug. 18 statement that the anniversary is “an opportunity for reflection,” adding that the Episcopal Church “continues to work for healing and reconciliation.”
“The greatest memorial to those who died 10 years ago will be a world more inclined toward peace,” said Jefferts Schori, who will preach at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, at St. Paul’s Chapel in New York, a few meters from where the World Trade Center stood, and at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.
Acknowledging that “many people died senselessly that day, and [that] many still grieve their loss,” the presiding bishop said, “We believe there is hope.”
Following the terrorist attacks, she said, church communities in many places “began to reach out to their neighbors of other faiths, offering reassurance in the face of mindless violence. That desire for greater understanding of other traditions has continued, and there are growing numbers of congregations engaged in interfaith dialogue, discovering that all the great religions of the world are fundamentally focused on peace.”
In the aftermath of 9/11, Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel in Lower Manhattan became sanctuaries for those seeking consolation.
For eight months after the attacks, St. Paul’s Chapel served as home to a volunteer relief effort, “becoming a place of renewal and inspiration for Ground Zero’s physically and spiritually weary,” a Trinity Church press release said.
“People of faith gave sacrificially in the immediate aftermath of the plane crashes,” said Jefferts Schori in her statement. “St. Paul’s Chapel … opened its doors to the emergency responders, and volunteers appeared with food and socks, massaging hands and praying hearts. Volunteers continued to staff the chapel for months afterward, and prayers were offered as human remains were sought and retrieved in the ruins of the towers.”
As it did a decade ago, Trinity will open its doors in September to all seeking spiritual refuge. “The parish will honor the memory of those so tragically lost, and mark the unparalleled efforts of the first responders, recovery workers and volunteer community with community observances offering contemplation, solace and the embrace of a hopeful future,” the Trinity release said.
A series of commemorative events will be held at Trinity and St. Paul’s from Sept. 6 to 11 under the theme “Remember to Love.”
During the six days, the public will be invited to tie white ribbons – symbols of remembrance – with the words “Remember to Love” on the fence around St. Paul’s Chapel. Names and prayers may be written on the ribbons.
On Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. acclaimed author and teacher Sharon Salzberg will lead a workshop, “Meditation on Lovingkindness,” that will focus on remembering to love, “cultivating a deep sense of caring for self and for all of creation.” The event will be held at Charlotte’s Place, a storefront community center of Trinity Church located at 109 Greenwich Street.
An all-night vigil will be observed from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning on Sept. 10, when St. Paul’s Chapel will stay open for informal prayer, meditation, and labyrinth walks.
On Sept. 11, events and services will run throughout the day, commencing with Holy Eucharist at 7:30 a.m. with Jefferts Schori as preacher and Diocese of New York Bishop Mark Sisk celebrating.
More at:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_129496_ENG_HTM.htm
See also: Remembering 9/11 With Bach and Brahms @ MUSIC – this site.
PRAY2DAY on this site will be commemorating 9/11 with selected readings and prayers from 8th – 12th September