Days of religious observance converge next week. The Jewish Days of Awe begin with Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 9 through Yom Kippur on Sept. 18. The Muslim season of Ramadan ends with 'Id al-Fitr on Sept. 10. And Sept. 11 will be the ninth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack. While millions will join together in worship and prayer next week, an isolated few have promised to burn the Holy Quran in memory of the tragic events of 9/11.
A church member sent me this prayer from an interfaith group in Chicago intended to kindle a different kind of flame.
May a prayerful spark ignite us again to bring comfort to those who lost loved ones on that terror-filled day and in the wars that followed from it.
May we stand against the forces of distrust, hostility toward faiths other than our own, and cruelty under the guise of devotion.
May we stand with documented and undocumented immigrants, the homeless and those losing their homes, the jobless and the despairing.
May we seek healing and reconciliation at home and abroad for the cause of justice and peace.
With them, I invite you to pray on the weekend of Sept. 9-12 that the fires of hatred and violence in our nation and our world will be extinguished and that, together, we can be aflame for the cause of a truly Beloved Community.
We will witness to this Word through our adult education series this fall and through continued involvement in interfaith dialogue with members of the mosque in Villa Park. Contact Rev. Leah Fowler if you would like to join us in lighting a candle for peace.
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