Marking the anniversary in an interfaith context
Rev. Kathleen E. Allan
Bull Run Unitarian Universalist
Manassas, VA 20110
I am part of the planning group for an Interfaith Service of Remembrance to be held on the 11th for the Prince William region in Northern Virginia .
I am the Chair of Unity in the Community, a grassroots group of people of faith and citizens concerned about discrimination in this region. In November 2001, we held an event called, "Living Together After September 11th."Because of local hate crimes, we included Hispanic, Sikkh, Muslim and Jewish representatives on a panel, as well as Muslim youth from the local International Youth Club at high school. I moderated as each person shared their abhorrence of the events of Sept. 11th and their tradition's/ communities views of the event. 250 people attended. Our congregation actively supports Unity in the Community.
During the service on September 18th, I asked the children and youth to come
to the service, called groups of kids up in groups age-appropriate, beginning with the youngest, and talked with them about what happened, had them look slowly and deliberately at everybody in the congregation, and explained that we all were there for them to help keep them safe and listen to them. Each were sent on to their RE classes through an archway of arms formed by the congregation. RE leaders were prepared to follow-up.
Sermons included updates on members working at the Pentagon and for the airlines, on Post Traumatic Stress, the Ethic of Right Relations, Resources for Uncertain Times, the Right of Conscience in our Congregations, The Battle for God, Heaps of Humility, The Face of Religious Freedom.
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists sponsored Vigils and a Service of Remembrance the first week. We now have a connection with secular Iranians in our region.
