Remembering 9/11 with Prayer and Song

A Time of Prayer and Remembrance: A 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Service

Join the Cape Girardeau community for a time of prayer and music in memory of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, their families, the first responders, and our nation. A time for reflection, praying, singing, and listening. A time of memory and grief, but also time of hope and thanksgiving to our living, loving, and merciful God. A Christian service, but open to all faiths. Sponsored by the Downtown Council of Churches, but open to the entire community.

Karen Dumey, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, has led the organizing committee for the service. Pastor Karen believes that on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 it is fitting for the faith community to come together in memory and prayer. Although civic organizations have sponsored annual commemorations, churches have not come together for a memorial service in recent years. The intention is for people of all faiths to come together to pray for peace and comfort, and to reflect on the precious human lives lost in the 9/11 terror attacks.

Instead of a sermon or speech, the service will focus on reading scripture, praying, singing, and listening to musical performances. Congregational songs will include "Abide with Me," "America, the Beautiful" and "This is My Song." DCC pastors and other community members representing a broad range of Christian denominations will lead the prayers and scripture readings.

Music will be provided by organist Beverly Recce, who is a well-know music educator and serves as organist at Centenary Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Church of Christ.

The Covenant Quartet of Westminster Presbyterian Church will sing "The Statue of Liberty."

The University Choir, Southeast's premiere choral ensemble will also perform. Open to all university students by audition, this fifty-voice choir performs vocal music of the highest quality--not just from the classical choral repertoire--but spirituals and folk songs from America and abroad.

The Downtown Council of Churches (DCC) is open to all churches who are interested in the spiritual and material well-being of the traditional downtown area of Cape Girardeau. The DCC has sponsored the annual "Way of the Cross" on Good Friday, community Easter "Sonrise," and Thanksgiving services, and "Blue Sky" services in Capaha Park.