|
|
|
|
SEASONS
OCCASIONAL SERVICES FOR:
CHURCHES
PASTORS
BISHOPS +
RENEWING THE
CHURCH
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
DONATIONS |
|
Litany of
Remembrance for September 11
By The Rev.
Thomas L. Weitzel
The following
litany may be used in any worship setting, Christian or interfaith. If used in a service of holy
communion, it would replace the Prayer of the Church.
+
L = Leader C = Congregation
L: On September 11, 2001, our lives were
changed. Loss came into our world in a
shocking and tragic way – loss of innocence as a nation, loss of security in our
communities, loss of lives and
livelihood for so many individuals. We
shall never be the same after that black day.
And yet we have survived. We are
marked and scarred and still find need for healing, but we have survived to see
September 11, 2002. For this, we can
give thanks to the God who provides all good things for our being as
individuals and as a nation. Therefore
let us mark this day with prayers of remembrance, prayers of healing, prayers
of thanksgiving, and prayers for guidance as we go forward in our lives
together.
L: Lord of the nations, God of our
strength, the images of the tragedy of September 11 are still so vivid in our
minds and in our senses. What we saw,
how we felt, and what we said is still so very present for us. Yet with a gentle and caring hand, you have
lifted us from the depths of despair and guided us to this time of remembrance
one year later.
C: With truly grateful hearts, we thank
you, O Lord.
L: You have given us strength beyond our
expectation to meet the challenges of living in our post-Nine/Eleven
world.
C: With truly grateful hearts, we thank
you, O Lord.
L: You have touched us with your healing
power and dulled the pain that may never go away by giving us hope again, when
at first we felt so hopeless.
C: With truly grateful hearts, we thank
you, O Lord.
L: As we look back, we remember the lives
of those who died so tragically. We
remember the heroism of firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, clergy and so
many ordinary citizens who gave of themselves for others – and continued to do
so throughout the year.
C: We remember with thanksgiving, O Lord.
L: We remember those who stepped forward
so swiftly to fight the good fight on our behalf against the evils of terror,
some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
C: We remember with thanksgiving, O Lord.
L: We remember the courageous leadership
of the heads of our government, standing
with us in our sorrow and lending aid, guidance and decisive action to help us
move forward.
C: We remember with thanksgiving, O Lord.
L: As we look forward, O God, we realize
the stark reality that terror still affects our daily lives. Help us in our fearfulness to place our hope
and our trust in you.
C: Lord, hear our prayer.
L: Guide and inspire us and our leaders to
make wise decisions for our future, for our homeland, and for our people. Keep us from self-righteousness, arrogant
pride and prejudice. Unite us to
champion justice, peace and freedom.
C: Lord, hear our prayer.
L: You alone know what hurts remain among
us. Send us your healing Spirit. Comfort those who mourn. Bring us all to the fullness of health and
joy that comes from your love.
C: Lord, hear our prayer.
L: God of all creation, Author of all
good, faithful Provider of all our needs, to you we give our praises, our
prayers and our thanksgivings on this day of remembrance. All honor and glory be yours, O God (Father,
Son and Holy Spirit), now and forever.
C: Amen