Two prayers for the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attack on America.
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O God, our hope and refuge,
in our distress we come to you.
The shock and horror of that tragic day have subsided,
replaced now with an emptiness,
and 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 you
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.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
–From the Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church
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We come together with people all over the world to remember the day our world changed. We come together in faith, in hope, in God’s infinite love.
Gracious and Merciful God, we commend to your mercy and grace all who died in the 9/11 attacks and all who have died while laboring to end terrorism.
In New York City: 2,342 persons
In Arlington, Virginia: 184 persons
In Shanksville, Pennsylvania: 40 persons
411 New York City rescue workers that day, plus so many more from the aftereffects.
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in the following years of war.
Over 70 countries lost loved ones that day: family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, heroes. In the face of all this loss, we claim your grace, your faithfulness, and your power to bring good out of evil.
O Compassionate Lord, it’s been twenty-five years, yet the harm continues. Comfort all who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Come with assurance and peace for all who remain traumatized, anxious, or fearful for the future. Come with protection and freedom for all who continue to live in the midst of hostility and oppression.
Bring wholeness and hope to every broken place- to broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken spirits. To broken relationships, broken systems, and broken faith.
Draw together leaders of every nation. Give them ears to hear your wisdom and the courage to respond. Inspire them to work together for peace, justice, and freedom. Inspire us, too.
Protect and strengthen all who risk their lives to protect others. Guard and encourage all who work to make your world a place of peace. Guard and guide us, too.
God of the Nations, hear our prayer for our enemies and for ourselves. Help us love and pray for those who profit from hate and destruction. Help us stop the injustice. We claim your abiding, your humility, and your strength as we strive to fulfill this call.
Save us from revenge, false teaching, and blind suspicion. Help us understand the hurt that feeds the hate.
Change the hearts of all who seek their way by evil and violent means, by coercion and corruption and privilege, including our own. Create in us clean hearts that beat with your unconditional compassion.
Leave no one in the shadows of evil and death, O God. Fill us all with your light and make us all instruments of your peace.
Offer your own prayers for peace and goodwill in the world, and in your own family and circle of friends and neighbors.
Our world remains a dangerous place, O God, but with you there is hope. With you there is persevering and purpose. You are our Rock, our Shield, our Defender forever.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
–Prayer for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 by Methodist Pastor Lisa Degrenia ( revlisad.com )
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II Chronicles 7:14 — (The Lord God says), “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
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Psalm 46:
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
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