Plans are being made for commemorative events across the country for the 10th Anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on America.
One of the most high profile gatherings will be in New York City, but controversy has arisen because Mayor Bloomberg's office has planned the program, without one of the key elements of the aftermath of the tragedy - the clergy. The planned program will apparently not have a representative of the faith community.
According to an update in The Christian Post:
A spokesperson for New York's City Hall told The Wall Street Journal that previous 9/11 anniversary memorials did not include religious leaders and they wanted to strike a similar tone with the 10th anniversary. “There are hundreds of important people that have offered to participate over the last nine years, but the focus remains on the families of the thousands who died on Sept. 11,” the spokesperson said.
City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, a pastor at New Life Outreach International, told The Wall Street Journal that religious leaders were “one of the pillars that carried us through. They were the spiritual and emotional backbone, and when you have a situation where people are trying to find meaning, where something is bigger than them, when you have a crisis of this level, they often look to the clergy.” Apparently, first responders are being left out, as well.
The Family Research Council is leading an effort to collect 50,000 signatures to present to Mayor Bloomberg on September 9th. So far, some 30,000 have been gathered. The FRC says this:
Pastors are not invited to the event, as Mayor Bloomberg apparently thinks that the invited politicians will be able to offer enough comfort to the families. But Mayor Bloomberg's glaring omissions from the event do not end with clergy. The very people who hallowed the ground, the living embodiment of selfless courage we vowed "never to forget" -- New York's first responders -- won't even be invited.For additional information, you can go to FRC's website at http://www.frc.org/.
This past weekend, as large areas of New York City were evacuated in preparation for Hurricane Irene, first responders were on vigilant alert, prepared at a moment's notice to place their lives in harm's way for others. If anything, this should have served as a reminder for Mayor Bloomberg of the sacrifices these men and women are prepared to continually make and the recognition they deserve.
NYC event being organized by faith leaders
This past weekend, Saddleback Community Church pastor Rick Warren declared:
“This week the mayor of New York City announced that at the 10th anniversary memorial service at Ground Zero that there are going to be no prayers...Now, you know what I think about that. So, we are going to have our own nationwide, national prayer day,” he said to applause.So, Saddleback is partnering with one of its church plants, Lower Manhattan Community Church in New York City to present a special service, along with a webcast. Details on these "Hope and Freedom" services are being developed.
Faith Radio presents 9-11 on-air programming
A special from Moody Radio is coming up on Sunday, September 11th at 5:00pm, called "Finding God on 9/11". Wayne Shepherd hosts an hour of memories and perspectives from the 9/11 attacks with Dr. Joe Stowell, former President of the Moody Bible Institute. During the hour they will open the Moody Radio archives and hear echoes from the Moody Radio coverage on 9/11 and the days following, and Dr. Stowell will give his insights on how we can find God working in the middle of this national crisis. You'll hear from a variety of Christian leaders, including Brooklyn Tabernacle Pastor Jim Cymbala, as well as Lisa Beamer, whose husband died on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania, and World Trade Center survivor, Genelle McMillan.
The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks will also be marked by a special two hour live simulcast featuring Anne Graham Lotz, Joel Rosenberg and praise and worship music with Selah on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 6:00-8:00pm. It's entitled, "A Wake-Up Call For God's People", and will be shown at churches and ministries throughout America, as well as online at http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/.
In the Faith Radio area, simulcast locations include:
His Vessel Ministries in Union Station in downtown Montgomery,
First Baptist Church of Opelika,
and Crosspoint Christian Church in Selma
What about your own personal 9-11 emergency?
On the anniversary of September 11th, First Baptist of Montgomery presents "Team Night", featuring former University of Alabama star running back Siran Stacy, who faced his own emergency as he lost his wife and 4 of his children in a tragic automobile accident. Also, Mike & Rebecca Ellis will share their story of how they responded after the death of their son, Cole. "Team Night" begins Sunday, September 11th at 6:11pm at First Baptist on South Perry Street.
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