9/11: Fifteen years later

September 11, 2001 was a day no one can forget as lives were rocked across the U.S. and the world. We reached out to United Methodists living in New York at the time for this exclusive series of stories in which church leaders and members reflect on what happened that dark day and what lessons have impacted their lives and their congregations since then. 

It was not an easy thing to relive such hard memories but those we interviewed hope their words will help others continue to work for a more peaceful world. Read more at this link.

As you mark 9/11, we share this prayer for reflection also.

Prayer for the Anniversary of 9/11
by the Rev. Jeremy Pridgeon
 

O God, our hope and refuge,
in our distress we come quickly to you.
Shock and horror of that tragic day have subsided,
replaced now with an emptiness,
a longing for an innocence lost.

We come remembering those who lost their lives
in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. 

We are mindful of the sacrifice of public servants
who demonstrated the greatest love of all
by laying down their lives for friends.
We commit their souls to your eternal care
and celebrate their gifts to a fallen humanity.

We come remembering
and we come in hope,
not in ourselves, but in you.
As foundations we once thought secure have been shaken,
we are reminded of the illusion of security. 

In commemorating this tragedy,
we give you thanks for your presence
in our time of need
and we seek to worship you in Spirit and in truth,
our guide and our guardian. Amen.