Churches throughout the community gathered at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church at noon Friday to remember not only those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, but how the tragedy affected all of America.
As attendees entered the church doors Friday, they were greeted with bulletins, and a bowl of stones was available for each person to take one as a physical representation of the weight of remembering the tragedy and all that was lost.
Thirteen ministry leaders from churches and nonprofits in Clinton led the service, which began with a prelude and procession of the leaders, followed by the chiming of bells for the four sites that were struck during that September day 25 years ago.
Dr. Thaddeus Godwin, pastor of Lisbon Street Baptist Church, welcomed those gathered with a call for national unity and the hope for America to “return to the post-9/11 spirit.”
Becky Spell, founder of Tim’s Gift, led the call to worship with a reading from Psalm 46, the scripture around which the service was centered.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” reads Psalm 46:1, the message leaders returned to throughout the service. It was also the theme of the Rev. Justin Wade’s sermon later in the service, titled “What to Remember When We Remember.”
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble,” echoed Wade, pastor of First Baptist Church, 900 College St., at the start of his message to the community gathered at Graves Memorial Friday afternoon.
Wade described Sept. 11, 2001, as “America’s Psalm 46,” sharing that the nation learned that day America was not untouchable or as secure as many had thought.
Wade shared the name David Williams, a man he said was able to get out after the tower was struck but re-entered to save others, sacrificing his own life in the process. The pastor shared that he knew Williams’ mother and sister, used to live near their family and witnessed their personal grief in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“Remembrance can be daunting because it forces us to face what we are desperate to escape,” Wade said, asking the crowd, “What do you remember?”
The pastor listed diagnoses, accidents, struggles and losses those in attendance may be remembering, connecting the humanity in all and the struggle to remember painful realities on both a personal and national scale.
Wade urged the congregation to remember that “what feels secure today, can be buried today,” and that the psalmist was not confident in the absence of trouble, but rather in the presence of God.
He also urged the community to remember that “faith does not deny what happened” and that no one is expected to hurry through grief.
“A refuge is where you run when your own strength has run out,” the pastor stressed, encouraging the community to turn to God in the midst of grief and tragedy.
He concluded with a message of hope.
“Even in the darkest moments, evil is not permitted to write the last chapter. Love still prevails,” Wade said, adding that “remembrance does not have to end in despair.”
After the sermon, the Rev. Katie Rives, pastor of Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, led the congregation through a scripture call and response and the Lord’s Prayer to prepare for communion, urging all, “You are welcome here.”
The Graves Memorial pastor stressed that it was a table for all God’s people and that no denomination or other separation should keep anyone from receiving communion.
Everyone was also invited to take the stone they picked up before entering the sanctuary and drop it into the baptismal font so that, as they came to take communion, they could let the weight of their grief sink into the water.
There were hymns, scripture readings and prayers throughout the service led by local ministry leaders Pastor Billy Chaney of Coharie Christian Center; the Rev. Matt Seals, lead pastor of First Methodist Church; Matt Munse of Clinton Family Worship Center; the Rev. Joel Wise, associate pastor of First Methodist Church; and Pastor Eddie Barnes, outreach and discipleship pastor of Clinton Community Church. Moments of silence were interspersed for personal confession and lament.
Romans 12:14-21 was read in both Spanish and English by Pastor Jaime Carrion and Minister Christian Felipe, both of Jehovah’s Arc International Ministry.
The service concluded with a call to peace by the Rev. Gary Fetter of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and a charge and blessing by Pastor William Sankey Jr. of Reborn Ministries, urging attendees to take peace and reconciliation into a world that needs it.