A Service of Remembrance for September 11
By the Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
The following
service may be used in a church or community setting, Christian or interfaith. The
central “Remembrance” section is simply suggested to allow for creativity and
input by those participating. Use
whatever talent and resources that may be available to you, from art to music
to poets to speakers. Holy Communion in a Christian setting is provided as an
option.
+
L = Leader C
= Congregation
GATHERING
MUSIC
INTRODUCTION:
L: On
CALL
TO WORSHIP:
L: Blessed
are you, O King of the universe:
C: You comfort your people in their sorrows
and needs.
L: Praise
to you, O God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
C: You guide us along the way of life with
a caring hand.
L: Heavenly
Father, great Shepherd of the sheep:
C: You give us green pastures to lie down
in; you restore
our souls.
L: Be present
with us today as we remember.
C: We are a
remembering people. We are a people
marked by our past.
L: In our
remembering, heal us, O God.
C: In our remembering, build us up.
L: In our
remembering, help us to find our way.
C: In our remembering, guide us to a future
filled with hope.
L: For
our future may only be found in you.
C: In you alone is all our hope.
OPENING
SONG(S)
PRAYER:
L: May God be with us.
C: And with
those in need.
L: Let us pray. (Free
prayer is offered)
C: Amen
REMEMBRANCE
In a Sunday morning Christian worship setting, this section may be
the usual Word section of lessons and preaching alternating with
songs/hymns. Use either lessons assigned
for the day or lessons with the theme of comfort and hope.
In a Community Interfaith service setting, this section can be as
creative as local planners choose to make it.
It should reflect not only a looking back, but an identification of the
ways in which our nation and our community have survived through the goodness
of God, who has given and continues to give strength, healing, comfort and
guidance. The section might include
readings from various faith scriptures alternating with stories of personal
experience, historic national statements, encouragements, etc. A single speaker
may or may not be featured, depending upon how the
section is arranged. Special music, songs and short prayers may be
interspersed.
OFFERINGS
If Holy Communion is NOT offered at this service, then offerings may be
gathered here. Designate offerings for local
or national disaster relief. Special
music may occur during the receiving of the offering. If Holy Communion is planned, then the
offering should follow the Litany below.
LITANY
OF REMEMBRANCE:
L: Let us pray to the God of healing and strength for
ourselves, for those in need, for our nation, and for our future.
Lord of the nations, God of our
strength, the images of the tragedy of September 11 are
still so vivid in our minds and in our senses.
What we saw, how we felt, and what we said is still so very present for
us. Yet with a gentle and caring hand,
you have lifted us from the depths of despair and guided us to this time of
remembrance one year later.
C: With truly grateful hearts, we thank
you, O Lord.
L: You have given us strength beyond our expectation to meet
the challenges of living in our post-Nine/Eleven world.
C: With truly grateful hearts, we thank
you, O Lord.
L: You have touched us with your healing power and dulled the
pain that may never go away by giving us hope again, when at first we felt so
hopeless.
C: With truly grateful hearts, we thank
you, O Lord.
L: As we look back, we remember the lives of those who died so
tragically. We remember the heroism of
firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, clergy and so many ordinary citizens who
gave of themselves for others – and continued to do so throughout the year.
C: We remember with thanksgiving, O Lord.
L: We remember those who stepped forward so swiftly to fight
the good fight on our behalf against the evils of terror, some of whom made the
ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
C: We remember with thanksgiving, O Lord.
L: We remember the courageous leadership of the heads of our
government, standing
with us in our sorrow and lending aid, guidance and decisive action to help us
move forward.
C: We remember with thanksgiving, O Lord.
L: As we look forward, O God, we realize the stark reality that
terror still affects our daily lives.
Help us in our fearfulness to place our hope and our trust in you.
C: Lord, hear our prayer.
L: Guide and inspire us and our leaders to make wise decisions
for our future, for our homeland, and for our people. Keep us from self-righteousness, arrogant
pride and prejudice. Unite us to
champion justice, peace and freedom.
C: Lord, hear our prayer.
L: You alone know what hurts remain among us. Send us your healing Spirit. Comfort those who mourn. Bring us all to the fullness of health and
joy that comes from your love.
C: Lord, hear our prayer.
L: God of all creation, Author of all good, faithful Provider
of all our needs, to you we give our praises, our prayers and our thanksgivings
on this day of remembrance. May all
honor and glory be yours, O God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), now and forever.
C: Amen
HOLY COMMUNION (optional)
If Holy Communion is desired, the service would
continue with the Peace, Offering and the Communion Rite of your tradition.
BLESSING & SENDING:
L: Today as we have marked and remembered, we have affirmed that we are one people in one nation, united around the foundations of life, liberty and justice for all. God has brought us this far and will continue to be with us in our future. You have heard that word of promise in all that we have done this day. We will be healed. We will prosper again. Now go forth into the world, lending aid, giving comfort, lifting hearts, sharing your talents and gifts for the benefit of one another, of our nation, and of all the world. And may God go with you and give you peace.
C: Amen! Amen!
.
CLOSING SONG
Liturgy
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