Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

10th Anniversary of 9/11

Introduction

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th the Interfaith Center and the Religious Leaders Council are providing the greater Philadelphia area with resources as a way to foster discussion, hope and healing on this day. Here you will find prayers and poems that can be used by individuals, congregations and local ministeriums. You will also find links to other national organizations that are helping to prepare for this day.

Resources

Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia Liturgy Task Force Report

• The Religious Leaders Council’s Liturgy Task Force wrote this report in 2008 in the hopes of aiding different faith communities in leading an interfaith worship service. The report was written by representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, all bringing with them their experiences in leading prayer and worship to create this model of praying together. They specifically look at how language, such as the different words and names for God, and imagery are used in their own faiths. Further more how this language and imagery that sometimes is used to separate the faiths can be combined and used in an interfaith service. They make a clear and helpful distinction between “coming together to pray”, and “praying together” where coming together to pray may mean having people of different faiths gather for prayer each person still praying from their own traditions. While “when we pray together, we pray with a common voice using common language”, it is through this report and the resources they provide that they hope they can allow those who use it to pray together. Read the report here.

Conversation Starters

• In preparation for the 9/11 commemoration, the Anti-Defamation League is offering a free curriculum (pre K-12th grade) that can be downloaded from their website: Committing to Respect: Lessons for Students to Address Bias. This guide includes three lessons to assist educators in helping their students better understand concepts of bias and discrimination and respond to them in productive ways. The ADL hope that you will find these materials a useful way to start discussion in your classroom.
  
  Additionally, ADL’s free online curriculum – Curriculum Connections – provides educators with topic-specific lessons to help integrate multicultural, anti-bias and social justice themes into their curricula.
• This video created by Prepare NY is a conversation starter about religious diversity in America. Chronicling acts of religious prejudice throughout the history of the United States and eventually the attacks on September 11th 2001. This video will shed light on a long lasting and controversial issue in American culture and hopefully open all of those who watch it to conversation and deeper understanding surrounding the topic. http://prepareny.ning.com/forum/topics/we-the-people
• These educational resources provided by Prepare New York hope to educate non-Muslim Americans about the Islamic faith and Muslim culture. They have created this resource for educators in the hopes of fostering conversation and ultimately understanding in America and especially the culture surrounding the anniversary of 9/11/01. http://www.changethestory.net/?q=content/resources-educators
• Prepare New York have also put together a page of resources the hope help to start conversations about religious diversity in America and to further interfaith dialogue in America. http://prepareny.ning.com/page/resources-1
• This educational resource and curriculum guide from Tanebaum looks to turn the Park51 controversy into a teachable moment of religious diversity and co-existence. They provide facts about the cite, and about Islam as well as articles and films to continue to spark conversation and understanding about this topic. https://www.tanenbaum.org/programs/education/turning-park51-teachable-moment-curriculum-guide-and-fact-sheets

Resources for Worship

• 

  A coalition of leaders from the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office, the National Constitution Center, the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia, the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia and other community groups is spearheading a local commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The coalition’s overarching mission is to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity across lines of religious, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity on this solemn occasion. In addition to planning two major 9/11 events, the group has jointly developed a unifying pledge that will be disseminated to the public through a variety of formats. The goal is to encourage citizens from all walks of life – from prominent Philadelphians to elementary school students – to share their signatures, hopes, prayers and commitments.
  
  For information on 9/11 events, and to sign the pledge visit http://phillyuniteson911.org/.
• From the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: http://rac.org/advocacy/specialresources/tenyears/
• In response to the 10th anniversary of 9.11 the Rabbis for Human Rights – North America have complied resources addressing war, anti-Muslim sentiments in America and remembering this day and its events. Resources include “A Prayer for September 11th”, “Responding Pastorally in Advance of the 9/11 Anniversary: Reflections and Guidance” and “Lashon Ha’rah and Lashon Marpeh (Speech of Hatred and Speech of Healing) A teaching on anti-Muslim bigotry” by Interfaith Center board member Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer. http://www.rhrna.org/blog/?p=3038&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=commemorating-the-10th-anniversary-of-911-reflections-and-resources-from-rhr-na
• The following resources gathered by the Union for Reform Judaism provide educational tools, resources for interfaith worship as well as prayers, songs and services that can be used for events commemorating this day.
  • http://urj.org/worship/prayers/sept11/?syspage=article&item_id=4104
  • http://urj.org/learning/teacheducate/?syspage=article&item_id=19120
  • http://urj.org/worship/prayers/sept11/
• The Presbyterian Church USA has gathered a packet of resources including scripture from the Old and New Testament, Psalms, Hymns and the Gospels as well as suggestions for services to be held in remembrance of this day. http://www.pcusa.org/browse/resources-resource/tag/september%2011%20liturgical%20resources/
• These resources compiled by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America were written in the years following the attacks on September 11th 2001. You will find prayers, readings, hymns, litanies and material to include in sermons. These materials address themes of mourning, healing, fear and peace.
  http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Disaster-Response/Congregational-Resources.aspx
• The National Council of Churches wrote this litany in remembrance 9/11 for use in congregations. http://www.ncccusa.org/interfaith/sept-11-litany.html
• The following prayers were written by Alden Solovy to commemorate 9/11. They were published by Hebrew Union College and are also available on his own website along with other prayers for healing called “To Bend Light”. http://tobendlight.com/2011/04/28/a-liturgy-for-9-11/
• This website contains peace prayers from various faith traditions including Baha’i, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and many more. http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/christianpeace.html
• The Prayer of Saint Francis - http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pray0027.htm.
• Beliefnet.com has provided prayers from many different religious traditions to commemorate 9/11, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu - http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Movies/World-Trade-Center/Commemorating-September-11.aspx

Poems

• "Grief" is a poem by Sandra K. Hester written in remembrance of the tragedy of 9/11 and in the hopes of providing comfort to all those effected. The United Methodist Committee on Relief presents it here. http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/grief.stm

Organizations

• Prepare New York is an organization focused on preparing New York for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. They are an interfaith organization committed to promoting and encouraging discussions surrounding pluralism, and also showing support for the Muslim community. They have various links of ways to get involved and events occurring in New York and the surrounding areas. http://prepareny.com/
• 9-11-11 is a national organization created in preparation for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, in the hopes of inspiring healing amongst people of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. They provided information about various events happening all over the country in preparation for the anniversary. There are also places to learn more about Islam and to post your own thoughts, or plan your own event. http://www.911-11.org/