Gracious God,
twenty years on
we remember.
We remember
your precious children killed in
New York
Washington, DC,
Shanksville.
We remember
your precious children killed in
Afghanistan
Iraq
and around the world.
We remember
death
wounded bodies
wounded spirits
wounded souls.
We remember
acts of terror
acts of valor
acts of violence
acts of peace.
We remember
fear
anger
hate
prejudice.
We remember
kindness
courage
grace
generosity.
We remember
people coming together to
reach out
weep
sing
embrace
care.
We remember
songs ended
songs gone
songs created
songs begun
songs lived
songs shared.
Remembering,
may we take bold, faith-filled, hopeful steps
to unlearn the ways of war and
turn to ways that might make peace between people;
to overcome fear of one another
and recognize the dignity and value of every person;
to seek understanding of suffering
and nurture the empathy needed to work to alleviate it; and
to walk the paths of love
that leads to peace and justice.
Remembering Jesus,
in response to your Holy Spirit,
we pray. Amen.
with thanks to Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Chris Shelton, leaders of the United Church of Christ and Come from Away
