9/11 pledge

This Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We will all take time to remember the day and the lives that were lost, but 10 years later, we must go deeper. 

There were two paths forward from the ashes and rubble of 9/11: One path led to war, torture, and fear, but another path -- led by people of faith across the world -- was marked by soul-searching, genuine mourning for the lost, and standing up for peace-building and caring for our neighbors.

Although our government and many Australians, regrettably, have chosen the first path, the Uniting Church invites you to celebrate the alternative journey -- to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters of all faiths, and no faith, who are helping to build a nation that reflects our best values.
 
On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, affirm your commitment to peace-building and reconciliation by signing this commemoration pledge:

“As a Christian and an Australian, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks
I commit myself to work for building peace in my community and the world, 
and to love my neighbors by standing against hate and fear.”

The tower of love

"Perhaps the images of 9-11-01 are present to us during the proclamations of today’s readings: the Twin Towers, fires, collapsing, falling bodies and the sounds of terror. How do we pray today as we stand at the foot of the single Tower of peace and mercy?

Forgiving is not the same as forgetting. We can never forget those pictures and sounds of four years ago today. If our powerful nations vengefully go after and destroy those forces who attacked the West because of our greed, religious intolerance or insensitivity and then our nations continue injurious actions, then in time we will be nine-elevened again.

We stand before the Single Tower of World-Love and ask God’s mercy on us who have been the violators of other countries, peoples and religions.

Justice is a compassionate virtue which discards violence as an easy option. With the holy water of our tears of grieving, we remember the horror and vengeful feelings we all had and maybe still have.

The challenge of Jesus is to be a forgiven person on a political level as well as the personal and to live in such a way that we can reverse the spiral of vengeance downwards and resurrect a true world-center trading in mercy, respect, and justice for all."
apologies that i do not know the author