Disciples to Include the Global Community in Making September 11th A Day of Service With Other Faiths
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is once again coordinating a nationwide effort to make September 11 a day of service in remembrance of lives lost in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 terrorist tragedies two years ago. This year the program, known as 9-11 Respond To The Call, asks Disciples congregations to invite churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious, cultural or service-oriented groups to work together, adding action to their prayerful response. The 2003 workday theme is "World Unity Begins In The Community." The theme lends itself to expanding the day of service to include the global community, so Disciples' Global Ministries is co-sponsoring this effort. They will be asking their global partners to participate in a day of service in their communities as well. This new dimension makes the day an even more powerful way in which to join hands and make a difference in this troubled world. Last year, hundreds of Disciples congregations participated, partnering with members of faith and civic organizations to create large crews of volunteers across the nation. The Islamic Society of North America offered its full support to the inaugural 9-11 day of service, working with Disciples congregations from Honolulu to Baltimore. Teams of Muslims and Christians, Jews and secular groups spent the day working side-by-side for non-profit agencies, or created their own unique ways to "respond to the call." Communities were cleaned—lots cleared, gardens planted, streams decontaminated, fences and houses painted, and vacant homes boarded. Many crews went to food banks and soup kitchens, pitching in to help with much-needed clerical work as well as physical jobs of stocking, sorting, and serving food. Teams repaired and repainted shelters for abused women and children, transient men, rehabilitated prisoners, and elderly citizens. Some organized huge garage—or bake-sales, donating proceeds to local fire and police departments. And for the 2003 effort, the Islamic Society's General Secretary, Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, has pledged to do even more, joining with Disciples who have chosen to answer hatred and violence with compassion and love.
The Reverend Dr. Richard L. Hamm, Disciples General Minister and President, encouraged every Disciples congregation in the United States and Canada to participate, saying, "This will be a day to redeem [the] tragedies of these times and to declare ourselves a people who desire peace, justice and well being for all God's children. It is a time to be anti-racist and pro-reconciling." Through the additional support and sponsorship of Week of Compassion and Global Ministries/Division of Overseas Ministries, community workday efforts are being planned abroad as well. The Respond to the Call program began with the sentiments of a Catonsville, Md., woman, Esther Heymann, who lost her child, Elizabeth Wainio, during the hijacking of United Flight 93. "What those people are doing [working in soup kitchens, building homes, working with underprivileged children and in sub-standard housing projects] is what we all should be doing in response to my daughter's death and the death of thousands on September 11. Please tell them for me, 'thank you...' I do not want revenge ... I want peace." This parent's desire to change a world in which such unspeakable acts of hatred could occur was the motivation behind 9-11 Respond To The Call, which was initiated by Volunteers in Mission, a ministry of Disciples Home Missions. And while prayer is encouraged, this day of service is a reminder that humanity, too, has the power to make those changes. Congregations may download free publicity material, get ideas, read about efforts that worked last year, or share their plans for September 11, 2003 at www.RespondToTheCall.org As the global community gets involved, we'll be listing locations around the world where people of all faiths will be working together toward God's vision of World Unity beginning in the community. Contact: Jayna Powell, Volunteers in Mission, Disciples Home Missions Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (410) 788-6309 The Rev. Jayna E. Powell, director of Volunteers in Mission, is a native of Stockton, Calif., and a member of Christian Temple, Baltimore, Md. |
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