Churches plan services to honor those lost on Sept. 11
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 9, 2011 5:22 PM
Wayne County's churches are commemorating the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, with special services, a luncheon and even a parade.
Pastors will talk about freedom, liberty and hope. Choirs will perform patriotic music. And congregations will be remembering those who lost their lives in the tragic attacks on the United States.
Here are some of the activities local churches will have this weekend:
* Faith Free Will Baptist at 10:30 a.m. Sunday: A Dudley Fire Department truck will extend its ladder and display a huge American flag in the parking lot for the entire service. Several local law enforcement personnel and firefighters will lead a parade of their vehicles (with their lights on) from the kindergarten building on the service road over to the auditorium, where the congregation will give them a standing ovation and special gifts.
During the inside service, there will be a video and special singing. Pastor Dann Patrick will give a sermon to remind those attending of what happened that day and how they can move forward from here.
At the conclusion of the service, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the base of a tree by the field of flags the church has put up. There will be a moment of silence and then a bagpiper will play taps and "Amazing Grace." A commemorative 9/11 flag will be raised.
Those attending will receive a magnet that has the twin towers on the back and the three cities -- New York City, Shanksville, Pa., and Washington, D.C. -- around the other side.
* Daniels Memorial United Methodist at 11 a.m. Sunday: The church's Boy Scout Troop will present the colors, followed by a time of remembrance.
The choir will sing a special song called "Hero."
Pastor John Dutton will give a sermon on "Remembering Sacred Space."
The service will end with the Boy Scouts retiring the colors.
* Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist is asking those attending Sunday services who are past or present members of the military or police or fire departments to wear their uniforms to be recognized at the 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. services.
* First Baptist will have a Service of Remembrance and Hope for 9/11 Sunday at 11 a.m. by pastor Glenn Phillips. There will be a lot of prayer and reflection on the sacrifice of the people who serve this country and for those who lost their lives on that day. There will also be special music and a special litany.
The church will also dedicate two new flags -- an American flag and a Christian flag -- that were given in honor of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base especially for the occasion.
* Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Chapel will have a regular service with a special 9/11 tie-in at Catholic Mass at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and at 9:30 a.m. Sunday and Protestant services Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
* Jefferson United Methodist at 11 a.m. Sunday. There will be a Remembering and Healing service. During the meditation section of the service, various members of the congregation will talk about what they were doing 10 years ago when the planes flew into the twin towers.
The homily will be from five to 10 minutes with a special communion service afterward. A member of the congregation will sing "God Bless the USA."
During her sermon, the Rev. Alice Wade Davis will encourage members to reach out to firefighters on Royall Avenue by baking cookies and taking them to them.
* St. Paul United Methodist at 8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday: The Rev. Jim Harry will give a special sermon with an emphasis on needing to remember.
* First Presbyterian at 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the church's Black Chapel: There will be a prayer service to remember the sacrifice of those who died on 9/11 and also to focus and meditate on the call to civic service and people's duty as Christians to promote freedom and liberty. There will also be congregational singing.
* First Pentecostal Holiness at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday: The service will honor first responders and active duty military, who will be guests of the church. They have been asked to wear their uniforms, and during the service, the congregation will honor and pray over them. They will also receive a book titled "Never Forget ... Hope."
During the service, there will be videos and displays. The Rev. Bill Rose will deliver a special sermon talking about hope.
Following the 10:45 a.m. service, there will be a luncheon honoring the first responders and active duty military.
* Deeper Life Church Ministries Sunday at 10 a.m.: There will be a remembering 9/11 prayer service. A retired military veteran will be the speaker, reminding those attending to keep the families who lost loved ones in prayer, what it means for their liberty and the sacrifices people have made for their freedom.
There will also be a moment of silent prayer for the families who lost loved ones on 9/11.