September 11, 2001
Dear Friends,
I am as stunned as you are at results of the acts of terrorism upon our nation and our fellow citizens. The amount of suffering this has caused has yet to be realized, as I write this letter. Such events as this call upon the deepest faith we have.
The clergy of Bergenfield met today at 1:00 p.m. to be informed as to how all this may affect our community. We will be on call to assist families that need help or counseling. Plans are in the making for a special prayer service to be held on Sunday afternoon. Further details will be given in the next few days.
I am enclosing a prayer that I wrote today, based on prayers in a book by the late Harry Emerson
Fosdick. I offer it to you, hoping that you will find it helpful. I know it was helpful to me to sit and write it. May it be a prayer offered by our entire community. God be with us, our nation, and its leaders.
Grace and Peace, Thomas W. Pinnel
|
 |
|
Eternal God, our Creator and Redeemer, without whom life has no spiritual purpose, no divine meaning, purpose, or destiny, but with whom there is power for the present and hope for the future, we seek your presence. Refresh our faith so that the strains of this day may not break our spirits. Renew our courage so that life's dangers may not intimidate our souls. Amid the tumult of this day restore our confidence that our world remains undergirded by your eternal purpose.
We are burdened by the tragic events of this day and overwhelmed with the needs and griefs of those have been injured and killed, as well as their families. No words can utter our deep feelings of sadness and loss. We lift them to you, in faith that you hear our cries and hold in your power the ability to comfort and console.
We find that we must choose between faith and fear, courage and cynicism, strength of character and collapse of life — help us to choose the better way. Therefore we seek in you vision and power and hope. May we be challenged and not defeated by acts of terrorism, knowing that those who are for us are more than those who are against us.
We pray for our nation, in the face of so great a disaster. Every hour adds to our anxiety. Grant wisdom to our leaders that they may respond in ways that will further our nations welfare. They bear momentous responsibility for our nation's citizens. May they not act hastily deserting your purposes) but through humble obedience seek your will for the peace, security and hope for the whole world. We thank you for all who have responded to help the injured: police, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, paramedics and all who assist them. We thank you for their courage and pray that they may be strengthened and — fortified with your spirit.
Oh God, this day has cast us into a place that is virtually unknown to us. We are called on for tasks beyond our unaided strength) beset with feelings that defeat our weak resolves. We need the reinforcement of your spirit and our faith restored, that we may rise more than conjurers above the evils of the world, undaunted by its dangers and adequate for all that is required of us. Help us above the world's violence to see Christ still the hope of our world.
So meet our need this day and in the days ahead. Work in our lives your transforming grace, forgive our sins, turn us from grudges we have borne) injustice we have practiced, prejudices we have harbored, and the selfishness we have clung to) that we may further your purpose of peace and justice in the world.
Be to us our strength, our hope, and victory.
In the Spirit of Christ, we pray.
Amen.
|
