09/11/2026
This comes from a dear pastor friend of mine:
Remembering September 11
Twenty-five years ago, our nation experienced a day that changed us forever. On September 11, 2001, 2,977 men, women, and children lost their lives in the attacks on our country. We remember them today, not simply as a number, but as people who were loved: husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. We also remember the first responders, rescue workers, and ordinary people who ran toward danger while others were running away. Many gave their lives that day, and thousands more have suffered illnesses in the years since because of their service at Ground Zero and the other attack sites. Twenty-five years later, we remember their courage, their sacrifice, and the families who continue to carry their absence. We remember because every life matters, and because love refuses to forget.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” The pain of 9/11 reminds us how fragile life can be and how little control we ultimately have over tomorrow. But our Christian hope is not that tragedy will never come. Our hope is that God meets us in the midst of it and that, through Jesus Christ, death does not have the final word. On this 25th anniversary, may we remember those we lost, pray for those who still grieve, give thanks for those who sacrificed themselves in service to others, and recommit ourselves to living lives marked by compassion, courage, unity, and service. We cannot change what happened twenty-five years ago, but we can choose what kind of people we will be because we remember. And as we look toward the future, we can hold onto this promise: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” - Psalm 23:4.
Gracious and loving God, on this 25th anniversary of September 11, we pause to remember. We remember every person whose life was taken, every family whose world was changed, and every first responder, rescue worker, and volunteer who gave themselves in service to others. Comfort those who still carry grief, strengthen those who continue to struggle with the wounds of that day and its aftermath, and surround them with Your peace. Help us never to forget the courage and compassion that emerged from tragedy. Teach us to live with greater gratitude, to serve others more faithfully, to love our neighbors more deeply, and to choose hope over fear. And when we are reminded of how uncertain life can be, help us place our lives and our future into Your faithful hands. Through Jesus Christ, our hope in life and in death, Amen.
