O God of grace and eternal justice,
On this anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
We remember that horrific day as a day we wish we could forget.

O God we confess our ongoing need of your transformative and emerging grace
For we are all too mindful that this date still haunts us
With memories that provoke our anger
With emotions that are tinged with grief
With thoughts that trend toward vengeance.

As we attempt to apply your words to life,
And to live by faith as we hold to your promise of a better future
We confess that our anger and grief from that fretful day are not nearly resolved.
And that residual impulses of retaliation and hate incubate deep within.

And yet we acknowledge that our lingering hurt does not compare to the pain
of those who were touched more directly
through the unexpected and unfair loss
of family members, friends, and co-workers.

We tremble at the memory of atrocious images of death and destruction,
We worry over the ongoing armed conflict that seems to be unending,
We grieve over the deaths of the sons and daughters of our nation,
As well as the subsequent casualties among our allies and our adversaries.
And we long for a civilized and lasting resolution
So that our sons and daughters may live in peace
And that those who have longed for liberation from tyranny
Might govern and be governed with dignity and integrity.

Rather than being consumed by our grief,
And controlled by our fears
And constrained by our anxieties,
Let us set our minds to addressing the injustices that precipitate hostility,
Let us direct our souls to living out our moral conviction,
Let us turn our hearts to loving the poor,
and the disadvantaged,
and the disenfranchised.
And let us determine to fight terror,
Not with our own terroristic threats,
But with a responsible and courageous exercise of freedom,
And with a proactive and authentic faith.

And though it swims against the tide of our carnal instincts,
You continue to teach us to love our enemies,
so that we do not become like them.

Today we are grateful for first responders:
For emergency medical professionals, for law enforcement officers, for fire fighters, volunteers, and all who serve to save, protect, and preserve life.

Today, especially today, we pray for the leaders of our nation and our world
For the leaders of our state and our community
To act and react with wisdom and discernment,
And to maintain a disposition that will defuse conflict
And advance the cause of peace.
And we pray for the leaders of our churches and synagogues
And for people of diverse faiths
To act and react with transformative grace and enduring hope,
And to maintain a disposition that will dispel propaganda
And advance the cause of truth and compassion.

We offer our prayer with abiding faith and emerging hope in the One who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all humankind. Amen