Each Thursday morning we gather for worship at the Church Center for the United Nations. Different ministries take a turn leading the service. This morning brought the turn of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. We focused on the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001. We did so to allow participants to create prayer ribbons for the Ribbons of Hope Project and to model this project for use in other places and settings
For the service, we adapted a liturgy from the National Council of Churches created by written by the Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner and the Rev. Jon Brown. In the places where the services suggested lighting candles, we invited people to write prayers of remembrance, comfort and hope on simple red ribbons. Ryan Smith read scripture; Peng Leong led the time of prayer; Kevin O’Hara from the Lutheran Office for World Community led the benediction. Thanks to all my friends who helped me pick a song!
These ribbons will become part of the Ribbons of Hope display in Battery Park on the weekend of Septmbe 11, 2011.
To paraphrase the blessing from the liturgy:
May memory now reside in us at peace. May comfort companion us in all our days. May hope spring forth in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we serve God in all that you do and say, witnessing to the reign and realm of God to come. Amen.