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Liturgies in Response to Terrorist Events
How to Mark the Anniversary of a Disaster With Healing
By Rev. Christine Iverson
Christine Iverson is an on-call Church World Service
Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison, serves Lutheran Disaster
Response through Lutheran Social Services of Kansas–Oklahoma
and directs Lutheran disaster response programs in Kansas,
Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
There are many anniversaries in the life of the gathered people of
the body of Christ. Some of them are joyous -- birthdays, wedding anniversaries,
class reunions -- and some are anniversaries of loss and grief. Commemorating
these events and sharing them is a gift of our life together. Just as
we remember the events of a wedding and celebrate the happy memories
and the years spent together, anniversaries of loss also replay themselves
in our lives.
The emotions at the time a loss -- fear, sadness, anger, loss of control, and
others -- normally surface again later around the anniversary. Bringing these
unconscious reactions into our shared consciousness is the beginning of healing
ministry.
This year Sept. 11 will be an anniversary not just for the survivors, families
and communities hit by last year’s terrorist attacks, but for the nation as a
whole. Whether or not we choose to commemorate this event, most of us will be
affected by it, so the question is, “How can we respond as a community of faith?”
What can your congregation do on this anniversary or other anniversaries of painful
disasters, or during a disaster itself?
The first thing to recognize is that these reactions are normal. We should
plan our responses to include grief and thanksgiving, recognizing that we will
each respond differently.
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In newsletters/bulletins put articles that talk about reactions: fear, sadness, sense of powerlessness, hopelessness, anger, restlessness, tenseness, body aches, susceptibility to illness, nightmares, need for comfort (food or alcohol for adults, blankets or cuddlies for children).
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One of the things we can count on happening is another media blitz. Expect that replays of the attacks will be shown over and over. Each viewing can trigger more responses. It may be best to take a break from television. Create peaceful environments at home and in church for prayer and play, time together and space to be alone.
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Plan a worship service of prayer and commemoration, of grief and hope, such as a candlelight vigil on Sept. 11. Use the litany written for this occasion.
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Include prayers for victims and survivors of the disaster, those who responded—EMTs, firefighters, police, harbor patrol, disaster-response volunteers, pastors and caregivers, and armed-services personnel; our elected leaders; and others.
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Hymn suggestions:
The Church’s One foundation
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
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Collect a special offering for the disaster response program of your denomination.
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Give an expression of thanks to local fire, police and emergency personnel (who have all been on alert this year). Suggestions: Deliver homemade cookies, have a thank-you dinner that is also a fundraiser for needed equipment, invite them to come in uniform and recognize them, and pray for their work during worship.
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Learn about disasters as a congregation and work on individual and congregational preparedness. (Contact your denomination's disaster program).
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Distribute copies of books on pastoral care -- i.e., Making Sense Out of Sorrow by Foster McCurley and Alan Weitzman (Trinity Press International); Act of God/Active God: Recovering from Natural Disasters by Gary Harbaugh, (Fortress Press). Use the books for study as a group.
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Encourage people to watch their nutrition, sleep, and spiritual needs at this time.
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Remember those with special needs: children, shut-ins (whose only companions may be the TV, which will cause them to relive the event over and over) and armed services personnel.