In our prayer about the September 11th attacks this morning, there will be moments when you will be invited to speak out. It can be a single word like “love” or “peace” or “hope.” Together, we can offer a blessing for all who suffered, for all who have suffered since. As we offer our prayers, we will drop rose petals in water. Look up and see that, though the petals fall, they also rise in the Spirit.
It’s hard to believe that it will soon be 25 years since that terrible day. And yet, the impact of the fear and anger, the shock and chaos still lingers because 19 hijackers chose senseless violence. We have cried out for answers, for peace, for justice. We have shed countless tears for lives lost, for families ripped apart, for people missing and injured.
No matter how many years pass, we will not forget the beauty of each soul that fell that day – the promise that their lives held, the hopes they had for the future.
We remember the innocent victims at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, about 2,500 people who were on the ground and on the planes. Bless their grieving families with:________. [Pause. Drop rose petals in a bowl of water. Plunge them down so that they rise up. Repeat the words that the congregation offered after everyone has spoken.]
We remember over 400 innocent first responders who lost their lives: firefighters, police, EMTs, and others. Help us carry on their legacy through:_____ [Pause, petals, repeat]
We remember more than 9,000 innocent victims who have died of illnesses related to the attacks that day. To honor them, give us courage to be:_______ [Pause, petals, repeat]
Holy God, we know that you hold their lives in your hands. Though they have fallen here, they are not lost forever. Through your Spirit, you have lifted them up, close to your heart where there is no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
We cry out to you once more this day, Almighty God. Teach the world to resist the corruption of hatred. Speak to those who would be lured by the power and madness, the violence and the evil that is terrorism in our world. Show them that this seeming power is never the final victor. Touch their hearts so that they may see that love is stronger than death, that goodness is stronger than evil, that light casts out all darkness. Give them a way forward so that the world may be a home for all of us.
Gracious God, hear our prayer. Amen.
Note: I envisioned a ritual to go along with this litany. We have a large, clear glass jar on the chancel. As each group of victims is listed, we drop a few flower petals of different colors into the water (one color for each group). In the prayer following, the water is swirled so that the petals are seen being lifted and swirling together. In God’s grace and mercy, the dead are not lost, but they are lifted to new life eternal in God’s luminous presence.
Resources:
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks
*https://abc7chicago.com/post/fdny-release-25-year-report-health-impacts-911-rescue-recovery-effort/19774094/
*https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/911-investigation
Image credit: “Tribute to September 11, New York City.” Photo by Dennis Leung, 2010.
