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Letter of Condolence and
Dedication
September 2001
The members of the Augsburg Lutheran
Churches offer their heartfelt condolence to, and prayerful solidarity with,
all who have been so deeply affected by the despicable acts of September 11,
2001.
Our hearts were broken with grief and pride
as we witnessed the devastation and heroism of those terrible days.
We thank God for all who gave their lives
for the sake of their neighbors—the fire fighters, the police, the
passengers who fought, and countless others whose heroic acts we will never
know. At great cost their sacrifices brought blessing and light in the midst
of darkness. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends" (John 15:14).
We commend to our loving Father in heaven
all the innocent victims in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. We are
confident that he holds them safely in his grace and love. Father, as you
promised paradise to the thief on the cross, we ask that you would bring
these our brothers and sisters to the joys of heaven.
We pray for those who mourn knowing that
his presence and promise are our only sure comfort and consolation. Father,
as your Son Jesus consoled Martha and Mary in their distress at the death of
their brother Lazarus, we ask that you would send those who mourn your Holy
Spirit so that faith would be their consolation and eternal life their hope.
Together during this time we will cling
with the psalmist to the promise of God alone: "God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though
the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the midst of
the sea" (Psalm 46:1).
Though our hearts are broken, our spirits
are also aflame and resolute to stand with those who fight in the war
against terrorism. For the victim of terror is always our neighbor and God
commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).
Thus, with the President* of the United
States of America—
We condemn those who commit and those who
support acts of terrorism. "We are not deceived by their pretences to
piety … by sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by
abandoning every value except the will to power, they follow in the paths of
fascism, Nazism, and totalitarianism and they will follow that path all the
way to where it ends in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies."
We support the legitimate and divinely
ordained role of government in directing "every resource at [its]
command—every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every
instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every
necessary weapon of war—to the destruction and to the defeat of the global
terror network."
We exhort that since "we are in a
fight for our principles, … our first responsibility is to live by them.
No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because of
their ethnic background or religious faith."
We join in the call to "continue
praying for the victims of terror and their families, for those in uniform
and for our great country. Prayer has comforted us in sorrow and will help
strengthen us for the journey ahead ... In all that lies before us, may God
grant us wisdom, and may he watch over the United States of America."
Bless us and guide our nation, dear Father,
in the difficult and uncertain days ahead. Keep us in your grace. Protect us
in time of danger and guard us from every evil. Hold us in the hollow of
your hand. In the name of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
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*Quotations are cited from President George
W. Bush's Address to the Joint Session of Congress and the Nation on
September 20, 2001.
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