This Sunday marks 10 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and churches have been finding creative ways to commemorate this anniversary:
- More than 500 church leaders from around the nation will take to street corners on Sunday morning holding cardboard signs with messages of hope.
- Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., is renting out the Bright House Field (baseball stadium) for “A Day To Remember: Celebrating Heroes & Hope.” It’s even rumored that a local serviceman will parachute into the open air stadium from a helicopter to kick off the whole thing.
- Another church is part of a city-wide event inter-faith event with a local rabbi and iman, along with other Christian churches. The purpose is to show solidarity and that we can live in peace together.
- A small church plant will be having their first baptism service!
- A church about 75 miles north of New York City is sponsoring a Community Arts Show. The theme is “Hope and Healing: Ten Years After September 11th.” The award is a $200 donation to the September 11 Memorial Fund in the awardee’s name.
- Churches all over, including Trinity Wesleyan in Central, S.C., will be hosting memorial services, breakfasts/bbq’s, and events honoring local fire departments, rescue personnel, military personnel and law enforcement officers.
What’s your church doing for 9/11?
Kevin D. Hendricks
September 9, 2011
From our Twitter feed:
World Trade Center Jesus
I think I go straight to hell for laughing at Jesus & 9/11, but I can’t help it.
Chris
September 9, 2011
We are handling it simply. My predecessor (who was the pastor then) and I are doing a sermon together on the theme of “Then and Now”. But that’s about it.
Vicki
September 9, 2011
We thought it would be a good time to invite neighbors & focus on those who may not be regular church attenders. The churches were full the Sunday following that unbelievable day, and we thought the ten-year anniversary might conjure up some of those spiritual questions again. We’re doing a three-week sermon series: http://www.the-chapel.org/general/911. We sent postcards, put in some newspaper ads, and even bought space on some digital billboards.
Jon
September 9, 2011
Our congregation, located in a largely Muslim and non-Christian neighborhood, is holding an open house to remind our neighbors of our love for them and our work together for the sake of God’s world.
John Partridge
September 12, 2011
We honored our grand parents and great-grandparents for grandparents day, honored our teachers and other volunteers and invited our children’s bell choir to play (for the very first time). The message of the day was connected to the lectionary passage in Matthew 18:12-35 but focused on how we felt and the questions that we continue to ask about the events of 9-11. Is God good? Where was God on 9-11? Where do we find security? Do I have to forgive?
The text of this message can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/64569750/Ten-Years-Later-Lingering-Questions-2011-09-11
I also included (as our opening prayer) a wonderful prayer/poem that was written by an acquaintance of mine in the days following the attack in 2001. That prayer can be found here: http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/
Kenny Jahng
September 15, 2011
Our church commissioned a new song for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, called THERE IS HOPE. We got it airplay across Sirius/XM sattlite radio and other outlets. Locally we passed out thousands of shinkwrapped CD’s for free. And offered it in various places online for free download as well.
The response has been phenomenal. Some of the stories, and testimonials flowing in, comments telling us it was like the lyrics were written just for them. Music is so much more than entertainment, it can be a source of healing, community bonding and worship.
You can hear the song, download lyrics and get the free mp3 here:
http://www.liquidchurch.com/9-11/thereishope