9/11 Ideas

1. We're doing a themed worship on Sunday, 9/8, with related prayers, images, some video connecting 9-11 to our faith journey, and using ROMANS 5:1-5, getting hopefully beyond the focus on "nation" to focus on our common universal humanity and our calling as God's people within the suffering of our world. (Keep pointing to God in the midst of it all, suffering with us, offering us healing and pointing to a new and hope-filled way). More focus on "what do we do with suffering and where is god in all this" for Sunday experience.
   
   I might compare Paul's wording in Romans 5 (suffering => endurance => character => HOPE) to Yoda's famous line in Star Wars 1 when talking about the boy Anakin, "I sense fear in him. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hatred, and hatred leads to suffering."
   
   Then, on 9-11, we'll do more of a prayer vigil with both spoken and silent prayer, hopefully a guided meditation, and a few songs. At this gathering we will likely include more of the prayers for the nation, all nations, the "heroes" of 9-11, both fallen and still living, for healing and forgiveness, for peace and understanding, and prayers for terrorists and those who condone evil. More focus on remembering and prayer at this experience, I think
    
2. In the EBA book "For Everything a Season: 75 Blessings for Daily Life" there's a blessing for Anniversary of a Death, which could be adapted as a ritual for churches. pg. 62. www.easumbandy.com
    
3. We're going to hold a candlelight service on September 11th. We will do something small in worship on the 8th, too. Our 9/11 service will include a speaking member each from the fire, police, EMT and National Guard which broadens the community scope of the Service.
    
4. Outreach Marketing's web site has resources for 9/11--including a video.
    
5. For Graphics and Backgrounds of 9/11 try http://www.heartlight.org/prayerforthenation/
   
   For a free slideshow/video/flash presentation downloads try http://www.heartlight.org/prayerforthenation/acalltoprayer.html  

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On this site, "Can't Cry Hard Enough" is a great flash presentation of the event with loads of photographs of people in the days following the event. Although we're looking at using the flash presentation we'll probably use a different song, maybe Alan Jackson's "Where Were You."

The theme we're working on is something like, "Last year America lost hope, this year come and find hope again.

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