Here’s a litany for the anniversary of 9 11 written by Michael K. Marsh, a priest of the Episcopal Church serving a parish in the Diocese of West Texas. This is not the entire litany. To see the whole thing, click on the title below.
When we remember that day, the memories haunt us,
the sounds echo in our ears, and the images fill our eyes,
O Christ, lead us home.
O Christ, lead us home.
When we are hopeless and sad,
O Christ, lead us home.
When we are angry and vengeful,
O Christ, lead us home.
When tears become our only food,
O Christ, lead us home.
O Christ, lead us home.
When we grieve and despair,
O Christ, lead us home.
O Christ, lead us home.
When we are fearful and faithless,
O Christ, lead us home.
O Christ, lead us home.
When in grief, anger, negligence, or ignorance
we have turned against you and against one another,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we speak unjustly against others,
when we blame unfairly, when we withdraw or lash out,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we seek revenge rather than reconciliation and peace,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we have engaged in torture
and denied justice to members of the human family,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we have demonized people of other religions,
race, color, or ethnicity,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
Give us the will and courage to love and forgive our enemies.
Be our strength, O Christ.
Be our strength, O Christ.
Lead them and us from prejudice to truth,
Be our strength, O Christ.
Deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge.
Be our strength, O Christ.
Enable us all to stand reconciled before you.
Be our strength, O Christ.
For men and women who have given their strength,
their wisdom, and their lives for this country,
We thank you, Lord.
We thank you, Lord.
For firefighters, police officers, first responders,
and all those who were injured or died
so that others might be rescued, cared for, and protected,
We thank you, Lord.
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous who were patient in suffering,
faithful in adversity, and selfless in sacrifice,
We thank you, Lord.
We thank you, Lord.
For all who participate in interfaith dialogue, relationships, and reconciliation,
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women,
revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
We thank you, Lord.
—posted on Interrupting the Silence
For more worship resources for the tenth anniversary of 9 11, click on September 11 Worship in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
