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O God of grace and justice,

On this 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001

We confess that we need your strength to sustain us

And your Spirit to guide us.

For we are all too mindful that this date still haunts us.

Our emotions are singed with anger

And our thoughts trend toward vengeance

Even 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 awful day are not nearly resolved

          And that retaliatory impulses of revenge still incubate deep within.

And yet we acknowledge that our 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 shudder at the memory of those horrid images of death and destruction,

And we grieve over the succeeding conflicts which have resulted in even more deaths.

We mourn the deaths of the daughters and sons 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 wars may cease

   And that those who have longed for liberation from tyranny and terror

          Might govern and be governed with dignity and integrity.

Rather than being consumed by our grief,

          And controlled by our fears,

And plagued by our anxieties,

    Let us set our minds to addressing the injustices that preface hostility,

    Let us direct our souls to living out our moral and ethical convictions,

    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 deepest 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 and rescue personnel,

And we pray for their protection and ongoing dedication.

Today, especially today, we pray for the leaders of our nation and our world,

          And for the leaders of our state and our community,

  To act and react with wisdom and discernment,

To choose a course that will defuse conflict

And to advance the cause of peace.

And we pray for the leaders of our churches and synagogues

          And for people of diverse faiths

  To promote transformative grace and eternal hope,

          And to proclaim and live by a truth that dispels propaganda

          And to pursue your path of justice, mercy and compassion.

We offer our prayer in the strong name of the One who came to bring peace on earth
and goodwill to all humankind.  Amen