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Now is the time to begin thinking about the ways in which your
congregation will commemorate the events of September 11. Here
are some ideas to help you get started in determining ways you
can mark this tragic day.
Provide a Week-Long Devotional for the
Congregation
Consider compiling and providing a week-long devotional for
September 8–15, beginning and ending on those Sundays.
Like devotionals compiled by many congregations for the seasons
of Advent or Lent, invite church members to contribute prayers,
stories, reflections, and activities to the resource. Print
the resource and make it available for church members to take
home on Sunday, September 8. Consider incorporating material
from the resource into worship on each of those Sundays.
Open the Sanctuary on September 11 for
Prayer
Plan a day-long prayer vigil in the sanctuary. Include specially
composed prayers for the following: survivors, family and friends
of those killed, the communities affected, our nation, world
leaders, the nations of the Middle East, an end to terrorism,
and lasting peace. Invite church members to read prayers every
half hour. Church members could be invited to provide music
for reflection throughout the day. The deceased could be remembered
by the tolling of a chime at intervals throughout the day. Names
of the deceased could be read or listed for those who attend.
A collection of votive candles could be lit by participants
to signify the lives lost.
Plan a Wednesday All-Church Event
Wednesday evening in many congregations is a night for church
meetings, study groups, midweek prayer, or intergenerational
events. Since September 11 is on a Wednesday, consider planning
an all-church event for that evening. Following the day-long
vigil, church members could gather for a simple meal. Table
activities could be provided to facilitate discussion across
generations. A study and activity time could follow the meal,
concluding with a time of remembering and prayer in the sanctuary.
Launch the Peacemaking Offering
on Sunday, September 8
Traditionally, congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
receive the Peacemaking Offering on World Communion Sunday.
Consider distributing envelopes and resources for this offering
on Sunday, September 8. Invite children and adults alike to
engage in this month-long practice of generosity as a part of
their response to the events of September 11, 2001. Consider
designating the portion of the offering used by the congregation
to a local effort that builds understanding among all people
and reduces the risk of terrorism or hate crimes against any
people. For more information about this offering, contact the
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program at (888) 728-7228 x5784,
or send e-mail to
pfinley@ctr.pcusa.org .
Participate in the Interfaith Listening
Project
Between September 7 and 25, teams from around the world will
be available to congregations and middle governing bodies to
share their experiences in responding to the challenges of Christian-Muslim
relationships. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Interfaith
Relations has invited ten teams of two people each—a Christian
and a Muslim who have worked together—to itinerate for
two weeks in the PC(USA). The hope is that as these representatives
of nations around the world interact with one another and with
members of the PC(USA), we will all grow in our appreciation
of one another, the complexities of our mutual lives, and our
understanding of God’s call to work for the well-being
of our societies. Placement assignments for the teams have already
been completed. To learn if a team will be visiting somewhere
near you, contact Peggy Thomas at orrthomas@aol.com
or (888) 728-7228, x5289, or Debby Vial at dvial@ctr.pcusa.org
or (888) 728-7228, x5702.
Provide a Retreat for Church Leaders
Consider a leadership retreat that explores the impact of and
the church’s response to the events of September 11, 2001.
This could be held for elders, deacons, church staff members,
committees of the session, church school teachers, youth leaders,
or almost any group of leaders in the congregation. A retreat
design is available in the Ideas Web site archive at www.pcusa.org/ideas.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Contact Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for resources it has
developed. Stan Hankins can be reached at (888) 728-7228, x5797,
or at
shankins@ctr.pcusa.org.
Numerous church-related organizations provide
study resources on the Web. For instance:
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Web site has
developed several resources in the past year. Go to www.pcusa.org.
The National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the USA has posted an extensive summary of resources to help
congregations respond to the events of September 11. The Council
also suggests commemoration activities on its Web site, www.ncccusa.org.
The Reformed Church in America offers resources
at www.rca.org/resources.html
An excellent list of resources for interfaith
relations is available from the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith
Relations at (888) 728-7228, x5289, or on the Web at
www.pcusa.org/wmd/eir.
A helpful resource for study is “100 Questions
and Answers about Arab Americans,” available from the Detroit
Free Press at www.freep.com:80/jobspage/arabs.htm.
For more information in general, call the author
of this
article, Carl Horton, Office of Church Leader Support, at
(888) 728-7228, x5453, or write chorton@ctr.pcusa.org.
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