08 Sep Fifteenth Anniversary of 9/11
This year the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11 falls on a Sunday. Many churches all across the country will be commemorating the day in various ways during their worship services. I thought long and hard about what we should do at Calvary to recognize this pivotal day in the history of our nation. It’s not always easy or clear-cut how we are to balance theology and politics, righteousness and justice. And, because the church has so often invoked God’s name to defend a particular position, I am especially cautious. (Have you ever noticed how God always seems to agree with and be on the side of whoever is doing the invoking? Hmm…..)
I believe it is entirely appropriate to pray for God’s protection and blessing—but not just for ourselves, but for all the peoples of God’s world. And, I believe it is equally important to pray for God’s mercy—to recognize and confess where we are complicit in the estrangement, mistrust, vitriol and violence that is all too prevalent in our lives. Perhaps most of all, we need to be reminded that God is God and we are not. God is not “on our side”. Rather, we need to be about the business of getting on God’s side, on loving friend and enemy alike, as God asks us to do, and living as Kingdom people—people who are humble and peaceable, kind and respectful, serving others before ourselves.
My church will end our service this Sunday with a litany (i.e., prayer) for ourselves, our country and our world. I share it with you in the hopes that you will find it meaningful and useful as we remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
Yours for the Kingdom,
Michelle
Litany for the Fifteenth Anniversary of 9/11
O God, our mighty tower, and creator of Heaven and Earth,
Have mercy upon us.
O God, our Redeemer, who died and rose again,
Have mercy upon us.
O God, our comforter, who fell as a dove at the Baptism of Jesus, and strengthens all the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.
Holy Trinity, undivided, One God, who established the firmament and spoke light into the darkness,
Have mercy upon us.
By the liberation of the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s hand and the parting of the Sea,
Have mercy upon us.
By the witness and courage of your holy prophets of old,
Have mercy upon us.
By the Incarnation of the Word into the world,
Have mercy upon us.
By the ministry of Christ, the preaching of the Good News, the healing of the sick, the casting out of evil, and the raising of the dead,
Have mercy upon us.
By the agony of the cross, and the victory of the Resurrection,
Have mercy upon us.
From the forces of evil, and from deadly acts of terrorism,
Holy God, deliver us.
From the fear that grips us as individuals and as a people,
Holy God, deliver us.
From the senseless hatred that hardens hearts and minds,
Holy God, deliver us.
From war and violent conflict of all stripes,
Holy God, deliver us.
We beseech you to hear us, gracious Lord, that on this fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, you would rule and govern our hearts, and the powers of this world,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to protect this nation, and the peoples of the whole world,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to root out the causes of terror and war in all places and among all people,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to look upon those who would seek to do us harm, and turn their hearts from the ways of hatred and violence,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to rain down grace and mercy upon us all, that your peace, which passes all understanding, would overtake us all,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you on this day to uphold all those who lost people dear to their hearts during the attacks, and in the conflicts which have followed in their wake,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to surround widows and children, parents and loved ones, the injured and maimed with a hope in your trust, your abiding Presence, and life everlasting,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to uphold all those who maintain peace and safety in our local communities and abroad,
Hear us, gracious Lord.
That it would please you to shine your light into the darkness, that all would see and know you, and your ways.
Hear us, gracious Lord.
Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant us your peace.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray together:
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, whose heart is glad when all your children live together in unity; we lift to you the grief of our hearts, hoping that you will not only comfort those hearts, but change them; that we may be the people you have created, and called us to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
No Comments