September 11, 2011, marked the tenth anniversary of the day Islamic terrorists attacked our nation. Around the country, the nightmare which was that day was commemorated in different ways. I was honored to have been one of the musicians who played during the memorial service at Living Waters Fellowship in Two Harbors, Minnesota.
On that day, the church sanctuary was much the same as it usually is with the exception of a small wooden table in the center front of the room. On the table rested a folded American flag, much like the one which was given to my mother at the funeral for my father, a World War II veteran. Without anyone having to explain, the congregation knew the flag was placed to remember those who perished in the terrorist attacks on that September day a decade ago.
Behind the flag, four pillar candles flickered in blue glass holders. In the center of the display, a pure white pillar candle, raised higher than the others, showed its gentle light. This was the candle referred to as the Christ candle, also known as the Paschal candle.
While our church is not Lutheran, Lutheran tradition states that each part of this candle is a symbol. When lit, it represents the glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The wick is a symbol of His humanity while the glow around the lighted wick represents His divinity. It was appropriate the Christ candle should be lit during this solemn occasion. Jesus Christ triumphed over the sin and evil which has been in the world since Adam’s sinful act. In the same way, our church would remember that the sin and evil demonstrated on September 11, 2011, was not the final statement in the battle against those who would bring devastation and suffering through acts of terrorism. It reminded us of the hope we hold dearly.
Our service began with the song “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The Scripture which the congregation read in unison was from Psalms 24: 1-10 (English Standard Version). Part of the Scripture is as follows:
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein . . . Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation . . .Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
The worship team, three vocalists, a pianist, a trumpet player and me on the clarinet, led the congregation in four songs each focusing on peace for the troubled soul and Christ as our Redeemer. One of the songs was especially fit for this time.
“It Is Well with My Soul” was written by Horatio Spafford, a man well-acquainted with sorrow and loss. One hundred thirty years before the Twin Towers fell to the terrorist attack, Spafford lost an infant son, all of his real estate investments and life savings in the Great Chicago Fire and four daughters to a shipwreck on the Atlantic, all in one year’s span. His wife survived the disaster. He wrote the lyrics as the ship which bore him across the Atlantic was near the spot where his daughters were interred in their watery grave. While some may argue Spafford’s losses were small compared to the enormity of the September 11 loss of life, the song is a reminder that even when the worst tragedy strikes, the Christian can find peace for his soul.
Before the message, Pastor James Joseph sang “God Bless America.” On this day, the song was an earnest prayer, not just a patriotic gesture.
Pastor Joseph titled his message “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?” This is a question many ask when faced with the horrors of a child being murdered or our country being attacked. In light of the 2819 people killed when the terrorists struck, 343 of them First Responders who lost their own lives while trying to save the lives of strangers, it was an important sermon.
This is a synopsis of that message. All the evil in the world, the bad things which come to innocent people, is the result of one man’s choice. Adam, whom God created with the ability to make choices, allowed his wife to eat of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and then ate of it himself. God created us, like Adam, with free will to choose between right or wrong, good or evil. The choices we make affect other people.
Until God stops the madness in this world someday, the church is to teach righteousness, holiness, forgiveness and love. Our words should be of light, life and liberty through the cross of Christ. We are to go without thought to ourselves and only with thought of others.
Pastor Joseph quoted the Irish statesman Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” He reaffirmed that the church is to be the hands of Christ in reaching out to others. If we do nothing, evil will triumph in our homes, neighborhoods and country.
One of the nuns who taught our pastor in elementary school used to say, “You can not tell a hungry person Jesus loves them unless you first offer them a loaf of bread.” In our own city, one in four children and one in four elderly men and women do not have enough food to eat. Two-thirds of the world’s population goes to bed hungry each night and half of the world’s population dies without ever knowing what it feels like to have a full stomach.
Feeding the hungry is only one way we are to be the hands of Christ. All of the talents and abilities we possess are to be used for the glory of the Lord. We will eventually stand before God and answer as to why we did not do with those talents and abilities what He prepared and equipped us to do.
After the message and prayer time at the altar, a DVD of “America the Beautiful” was shown followed by a responsive reading of Ephesians 6: 10-18 and Romans 13: 12-14. The verses encouraged us “to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” to “cast off the works of darkness” and “put on the armor of light.” (NKJV)
The video “Remember Us” contained stirring pictures from the days during and after the terrorist attack set to the meditative song by Diane Riegal. You can see the video here
Accompanied by Larry Costello on the keyboard, I played “Blessed Assurance” while Pastor tolled a bell for the victims in the Pentagon and Twin Towers and in the planes which the terrorists used in their murderous attacks. Our trumpet player Andrew Schreyer played the somber and haunting melody Taps at the conclusion of the service. We were dismissed with a prayer and blessing.
In cities and churches across the United States on September 11, 2011, many of these songs, Scripture verses and actions were likely repeated. In the remembrance is birthed a call to action, to utilize the talents and abilities we have been given in fruitful missions of compassion and love.
Sources:
About the Christ candle
You may read more about Horatio Spafford and the song “It Is Well With My Soul”: at this site