New York Disciples Remember 9/11

Editor’s note: At 8:46 am on Saturday, September 11^th, 2021, the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, the bells of all the worship houses in New York City will toll together, for the lives lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center, twenty years ago this month. Every year on the anniversary of 9/11, family members gather at the memorial at ground zero in Lower Manhattan to read aloud the names of those who died in the tragedy. Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in our ICOC churches in the tri-state area of New York and New Jersey and Connecticut as they commemorate the event that many say changed our lives forever. We’re grateful to our sisters from the New York church, who have taken the time to share their first-hand experiences with us. We are proud to tell their stories in three parts: the first appeared on September 3^rd; this installment today on September 10^th, and part three on September 11^th.

Wendy Cavett - Manhattan

My name is Wendy. I am a musician. I’m lucky enough to work as the musical director for the Broadway musical Come from Away. It tells the story of a small town of 9000 residents in Newfoundland, Canada, whose population nearly doubled on 9/11 when the United States closed its air space and 7000 people had nowhere to go. These stranded passengers were welcomed, fed, housed, clothed, and cared for by the people of Gander and its neighboring communities for five days, around the clock. The locals decided not just to tolerate these unexpected visitors but to sacrifice personal time, effort, money and sleep to care for their needs. They opened up their schools, libraries and churches to the orphaned travelers; even greater, they gave their hearts to many people, overcoming their differences to love and to sympathize with those who were nothing like them.

In our show, there is a scene depicting a crowd of people from diverse world faiths singing prayers for peace: Catholic, Hebrew, Hindu, Muslim. The song climaxes as all the languages combine to make one multi-voiced cry to God. These worshippers do not understand each other’s language or share the same cultural history, but they pray for the same blessing. We see the commonality in their disparate beliefs: that they all seek peace and communion with God.

In Manhattan’s Big Apple Church, we have an annual project we call #2996: 2996 hours of community service, in memory of the 2996 lives lost on 9/11. I love this gospel-based initiative because it’s an opportunity to serve those who may or may not share my life story, age, ethnicity, or faith. It’s a chance to practice loving without expectation of return, reaching across divides to give my time and personal effort. Throughout our 2996 effort, some decide to serve in soup kitchens; some read to the blind; others volunteer in local libraries, stock food pantries, entertain at seniors’ centers, feed the homeless, offer free educational services to public school kids, donate blood regularly or just give time to local hospitals in need. In this effort, we are asked to imitate God’s impartial and generous love: God views all people as His children, and so welcomes, serves and offers each one His care. (Acts 17:24-27)

I am convicted by the willing hearts of those through whom God works, as seen in our #2996 project and in the story of Come from Away. Serving others reflects God’s love and concern -- and I believe that God uses all willing hearts, both Christian and non-Christian, to accomplish His will in this endeavor.

In light of the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, I wonder how we can continue to model this type of love for our neighbors both individually and as a church family. I believe as a people of God we are called to be generous, hospitable, and healing in all we do, whether in light of remembering 9/11, the lives lost that day and the city it impacted, or helping people in the wake of Covid, locally or globally. May God give you opportunities to be a safe haven and welcoming place of healing in your own cities and circles.