Service of Prayer for the Tragedy of September 11, 2001

{The Three-wicked Candle Is Lit}

O Almighty Yahweh, the supreme Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; that we, being armed with thy defense, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the 1928 Book of Common Prayer - In Time of War and Tumults)

1 Thes 5:3. "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

   People in our nation have thought that the world’s unrest might never seriously affect our lands.  Suicide bombings were the stuff of some Middle East "fanatics" soiling their own sandboxes, but not ours.  Though many of our foreign embassies have been bombed in recent years, this type of warfare has never been waged on the home front.  It breaks our hearts when we think of these victims who, like us, started their day with hope, ambition and prayer.  We think of those who boarded four doomed airliners on their way to a vacation or business trip.   We consider those who went to work at the Pentagon, or to the World Trade Center.  They were like us, and we feel a great sense of loss.  It will take weeks before the magnitude of this debacle sinks in, but already we are numb. 
 

   As we view TV news, we recognize how numb we have become to horror, having been exposed to incredible levels of violent television programs in recent decades.    As we witnessed the collapse of these mammoth buildings on our TVs, it was as if it were all just another Hollywood special effect.  But this is real: our nation is facing an actual reign of terror worse that any movie could portray.  Many now will now be living in constant fear.  All of a sudden, we face the reality that we are not safe from those who bear us hatred.  But our responsibility as Christians remains.  Christians stay in the Spirit, in prayer for our nation and the world, and in the service to those marginalized or victimized.  Christians also expose evil wherever they encounter it.  This is what we do.  (based on Biermann 9/11/01)

Read Ps 27 in unison or responsively, United Methodist Hymnal 758

  There is a story told of Rabbi Akiva, who defiantly continued to teach the Bible after the Romans had decreed that teachers would be executed.  One of R. Akiba's colleagues said, "Aren't you afraid?"  Akiva replied: “I will explain to you with a parable.”
   “A fox was once walking alongside of a river, and he saw fishes going in swarms from one place to another. He said to them: From what are you fleeing? They replied: From the nets cast for us by men. The fox said to them: Would you like to come up on to the dry land so that you and I can live together in the way that my ancestors lived with your ancestors? The fish replied: Are you the one that they call the cleverest of animals? You are not clever but foolish. If we are afraid in the element in which we live, how much more in the element in which we would die!

   “So it is with us. If such is our condition when we sit and study the Bible, For that is our life and the length of our days, if we go and neglect it how much worse off we shall be!”

   In other words, we ask ourselves what we can do in times like these.  If we are faithful people, we do what people of faith are supposed to do.  We repent of our sins and continue in the scriptures.  We fast.  We commit to worship attendance.  We recommit our lives to what is important. We remember our baptisms and are thankful.  We discuss events in light of Scripture.  We bind the powers of evil and loose ministering angels.  We forgive sins.  We offer goods, services and money to aid relief efforts. We give blood. We should do all of these things and we will as time goes on.  But tonight we come together for just a little time as that organism of faith that we call Byrneville Methodist Church -- and we bind ourselves together in fellowship with Methodist Christians all over the world for one specific reason -- to pray as a united body. There are many directions in which we may pray.

   We light one candle tonight with three wicks.  The burning candle itself is the traditional symbol of prayer.  Like prayer, the flame drives heavenward.  The wax that comes forth is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  One wick is a symbol of our little group of intercessors here this night.  A second wick is a symbol of all those Methodists and other Christians and Jews with whom we share a common God, who are also praying in unity with us.  The third wick is a symbol for the thousands of victims of this tragedy and the many auxiliary aspects of their victimization, suffering and eventual salvation. 

From Bishop Goodpaster:  Dear sisters and brothers,

 

   September 11, 2001, will be etched in our memories forever: where we were and what we were doing when we first heard the news from New York and Washington. We share the pain of our common humanity, and the shock of this senseless act of violence. With you, I am deeply grieved as the horrors of this day continued to unfold. We have been reminded of how small our world has grown, and in that process, how dangerous it is. It does seem, now, that no one is out of the reach of such catastrophe.

   When we are at a loss for words, when everything else closes down, and when the suffering of innocent people touches us, we cling to the promise and assurance that God is with us. In Christ Jesus, we know we are not left to face these days alone, and neither are those whose lives have been turned upside down in the loss of their loved ones. All over our Conference, our churches have opened their doors and their altars for prayers on behalf of the victims. In the aftermath of this kind of devastation, it is our only source of hope and help. As your bishop, I appreciate the ministry of prayer that is being shared, and urge you to continue that witness.

   The Council of Bishops has issued a call both for contributions to UMCOR and their disaster relief work. Also, we have issued an invitation to all who are able to donate blood. Along with our prayers, these can become tangible ways of sharing our love and support.

   In addition, let me invite you and United Methodists across Alabama-West Florida, to join with me in a Wesleyan fast this week - to fast from Thursday afternoon through mid-day on Friday. In this time of fasting, let us pray for the thousands of victims and their families; for those who will be recovering from both physical and emotional injuries for some time to come; for our President and his advisors, and our senators and representatives, as they guide our nation in the appropriate response; and, for those caregivers and rescue workers who are on the front lines. Let us pray for peace, for wisdom, for comfort, and for hope.

   I assure you of my prayers for all of you during these days. May you find the strength to offer hopeful, caring grace to those who are hurting. I assure you of my prayers as you prepare for worship and proclamation this Sunday. May you find the words that will point the way to life and light in the midst of the darkness of this day.

Grace and Peace! Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster

From Curtis Henderson:  Dear Colleagues in Ministry:

   What a trying time for our nation and the world.  I'm certain that with you, as is with me, this is a very shocking and yet sobering reality of the ravages that can be man's inhumanity to man.  We are called to prayer by our God and the Council of Bishops.  And our Bishop's leadership is that we are guided by fasting in our praying.  I am encouraged by the fact that in spite of it all, we still have the love of Christ to hold on to.  Please bear with me in my moment of reflecting on my personal pain in these moments.
   Our church is at work through Church World Service in establishing a response posture for the days and weeks ahead.  The enclosed message is for your use in putting the Conference Response program into action.  Our basic task in Disaster Response is to "respond to human need."  There can be no greater opportunity for us to fulfill that call than now. God bless, Curtis Henderson.

Let us enter into an attitude of prayer by maintaining a short space of silence, listening for the specific needs for which our Father would have us intercede tonight.

Intercession

Miss Johneda Brooks is scheduled for brain surgery Thursday, September 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Shands Hospital in Gainesville.  Johneda is the daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. John Brooks of St. Paul UMC, Pensacola.  Please remember her and her family in prayer.

Psalms 23 of David - Recitation

1.  Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall not want.  2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup Runneth over.  6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever.

The “Our Father” - Recitation

Mat 6:9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11.  Give us this day our daily bread. 12.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Benediction

May the presence of Yahweh the Creator give us strength;
May the presence of Yahweh the Redeemer give us peace;
May the presence of Yahweh the Sustainer give us comfort;
May the presence of Yahweh the Sanctifier give us love.  Amen.

 

{The Candle Is Extinguished}