Twenty-Five Years Later: Remembering 9/11 in Prayer and Hope
“God of mercy, receive those who died, comfort all who grieve, and heal those who still carry the wounds of September 11. Turn us from fear and hatred, and make us faithful servants of reconciliation, justice, and peace; through Jesus Christ, our hope and life.”
Today, September 11, 2026, marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks that took thousands of lives in New York City, at the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We remember those who died, those who were injured, the first responders who entered danger to help others, and all whose lives were forever changed.
This anniversary also invites us to recognize grief that continues across generations. We hold in prayer survivors and families who still carry loss, those living with lasting illness or trauma, members of the military and their families, and communities affected by the wars that followed.
As Lutherans, we trust that God meets us in the depths of human suffering. At the cross, we see that God does not remain distant from pain and death. In the resurrection, we receive the promise that violence and despair will not have the final word.
Remembering faithfully also calls us to reject hatred, fear, and the scapegoating of our neighbors. We lament the prejudice and violence experienced by Muslim, Sikh, Arab, and South Asian communities after the attacks. Christ calls us to seek reconciliation, defend the dignity of every person, and become peacemakers in our congregations and communities.
On this solemn anniversary, congregations and individuals throughout the Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to pause, remember, and pray. May our remembrance deepen our compassion and strengthen our shared commitment to a just and peaceful world.
