wfn.org | September 11 commemorations spread worldwide

[Daphne Mack <dmack@episcopalchurch.org>]

September 9, 2002

2002-205

September 11 commemorations spread worldwide

by Jan Nunley
jnunley@episcopalchurch.org

     (ENS) Commemorations of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 have
spread 
from Episcopal congregations (see http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens/2002-
193.html) in the United States to Anglican churches around the world. 

     Special prayers will be said throughout the day in England's Canterbury

Cathedral on Wednesday, September 11, 2002. A minute's silence will be held
at 
1:46 p.m. local time, the time that the first plane hit the north tower of
the 
World Trade Center in New York. In addition, Dean Robert Willis will conduct
a 
service of Holy Eucharist in the Chapel of Our Lady Undercroft in the Crypt
at 
2:00 p.m.. Candles will be available throughout the day, together with
prayer 
cards, and there will also be books of condolence in which anyone may
express 
their feelings about the events of September 11, 2001. These will be sent to
the 
US Ambassador in London. 

     "We are very aware of the warmth and long friendship that the people of
the 
USA have for Canterbury Cathedral," said Dean Willis. "We will keep them in
our 
prayers at this time of remembrance and reflection." 

     Australians have already begun commemorations of the attacks. On the
last 
sitting day of the Australian Federal Parliament, August 29, the leader of
the 
Labor Party, Simon Crean, named the ten Australians who died: Kevin Dennis; 
Alberto Dominguez; Elisa Ferraina; Craig Neil Gibson; Peter Gyulavary;
Yvonne 
Kennedy; Andrew Knox; Lesley Anne Thomas; Steve Tompsett and Leanne
Whiteside. 

     On September 11, "The World's Biggest Hug for Peace" will be sponsored
by 
the World Peace Society of the University of Wollongong, south of Sydney. In
an 
attempt to break the previous Guinness world record of 1802 people, the
event 
will include a one minute "silent hug" for victims of war everywhere. 

     Ecumenical remembrances are scheduled for Anglican churches and
cathedrals 
across Australia. Staff from the Embassy of the United States in Canberra
will 
attend a non-denominational memorial service September 11 at St.
Christopher's 
Cathedral in Manuka, organized by the Prime Minister's department with 
representatives of various denominations, families of the victims and
members of 
government taking part. In Melbourne, St Paul's Anglican Cathedral will hold
a 
memorial service on September 11 with the theme "Remembering September 11:
in 
solidarity with the victims of terror everywhere." Bishop Alexis
Bilindabagabo of 
Rwanda will be the guest speaker. He has participated in peace-building and 
reconciliation processes since surviving his own experiences in Rwanda in
1994. 

     Trinity Parish in New York is offering its September 11 services
streamed 
live on the Web and on the Episcopal Cathedral Teleconferencing Network (see

http://www.ectn.org) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time (US). The
centerpiece of 
the day will be a service at 11 a.m., at which the Archbishop of Canterbury,

George Carey, will preach, and Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold will
participate. 
During the service, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, the Right
Honorable 
Michael Oliver, will present Trinity with a bell in memory of those who died
on 
September 11. 

     The service will be Choral Evensong, featuring the Trinity Choir. It is

timed to enable the British Broadcasting Corporation's classical music
station to 
broadcast it live in the United Kingdom. American and British networks have 
expressed interest in televising live excerpts of the service. The Trinity
Choir 
will repeat its offering of Choral Evensong at 6:00 p.m. New York time.
Between 2 
and 6 p.m., Trinity will offer presentations by New York financial leaders, 
interspersed with concerts. Full details are available on the Trinity
website: 
www.trinitywallstreet.org. For a full program, go to "Trinity Events for
9-11" on 
the home page. 

--The Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News Service.