Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 9/11

 

Gracious God,

All good gifts come from your hand:
into our clumsy grasp
you entrust the precious realities
of life, justice and peace.

We remember this day
    how fragile is the gift of peace,
    how vulnerable we are
    in each other’s hands.

We remember those who died
and those who mourn their loss...

We remember those whose courage
gave us a new model for bravery...

We remember those who gave their lives
in their selfless efforts to save others...

We remember that day, that sunny morning
when the borders of our nation were pierced,

to the depths of our hearts...

We remember, Lord, and we pray
for the healing and peace we long for,

the healing and peace you call us to share...

Bring us to the day, O God,
when war is but a memory

and peace our way of life...

Bring us to the day, O God,
when the harvest of justice
will nourish the people of all nations...

Hasten the advent of that day, O God
and let our pride not stand in its way... 

 

Give us peace, O God,

the peace for which we pray,

the peace for which we plead,

the peace that's only yours to give...

Amen.

 

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When Sudden Terror Tears Apart by Carl Daw

When sudden terror tears apart
the world we thought was ours,
we find how fragile strength can be,
how limited our powers.

As tower and fortress fall, we watch
with disbelieving stare
and numbly hear the anguished cries 
that pierce the ash-filled air.

Yet most of all we are aware
of emptiness and void:
of lives cut short, of structures razed,
of confidence destroyed.

From this abyss of doubt and fear
we grope for words to pray,
and hear our stammering tongues embrace
a timeless Kyrie.

Have mercy, Lord, give strength and peace,
and make our courage great;
restrain our urge to seek revenge,
to turn our hurt to hate.

Help us to know your steadfast love, 
your presence near as breath;
rekindle in our hearts the hope
of life that conquers death.

Rev. Carl P. Daw, Jr. wrote this hymn to commemorate the terrorist attack on the World Trade 
Center towers and the Pentagon September 11, 2001.  (Hope Publishing Co.) 

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