Michael Budde, director of the Ekklesia Project, invited responses by e-mail to the current events. We offer these, with permission, for your reflection and prayer as you seek to be faithful in these times.

Further, as Ekklesia Members we have just seen our ministries complicated even further. The targets of the attacks have been the targets of our criticism. Now how "illegitimate" our position will be as it becomes associated with acts none of us would condone. How "unpatriotic" we will seem when we refuse to accept what's coming.

As the television coverage grinds on, we get a very clear picture of what is coming. The endless repetition of the spectacle of violence and destruction serves to beat the drums of war. I find this particularly challenging for us. I foolishly hoped that this tragedy would bring some national soul-searching: that violence of this magnitude might at least shock people into thinking that perhaps Christ knew what he was speaking about with respect to violence begets violence.

The blood-lust is only just beginning, and naturally, it drowns out the more effective alternative: to wage peace throughout the world. When I think of the list one could make of all the nations where we have actively contributed to the violence and oppression of the poor and disenfranchised, I can't help but think that it has come home to roost. In South America, Central America, Africa, Asia, we have contributed actively and economically to the oppression and disenfranchisement of masses of people. Indeed, before today the current administration had been talking about expanding "Plan Colombia" which is strikingly and tragically similar to our initial involvement in Vietnam.

Yesterday's victims are tragically emblematic of how we go on with daily life unaware of how our consent contributes to untold suffering throughout the world, or unable to challenge it effectively. And now as the media begins its relentless call for violence, how is the message of Christ Jesus to be heard? How hollow the claim to Judeo-Christian values in this country. How blasphemous to sing "God Bless America" and then call for revenge. More importantly, though, how can we become a voice in the wilderness?

We must come up with answers, for we are surely marching off to war.

Vince Rocchio

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

1. O God of every nation,
Of every race and land.
Redeem the whole creation
With your almighty hand;
Where hate and fear divide us
And bitter threats are hurled,
In love and mercy guide us
And heal our strife-torn world.

2. From search for wealth and power
And scorn of truth and right,
From trust in bombs that shower,
Destruction through the night
From pride of race and station
And blindness to Your way.
Deliver every nation,
Eternal God, we pray.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Let us pray for those who have died in New York and in Washington.

Pause. . .

Father of all, we pray to you for those who have died, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace; for this we pray:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those who grieve.

Pause. . .

Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with those who grieve. Surround them with you love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; for this we pray:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our families and friends at home.

Pause. . .

O God, whose care reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth: We humbly beseech you graciously to behold and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to you, may be bound together by your love in the communion of your Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of your saints; for this we pray:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our enemies.

Pause. . .

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, for this we pray:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for confidence in God.

Pause. . .

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; for this we pray:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Let us pray as Jesus taught us:

Our Father. . .

Let us call upon the protection of Mary, the Mother of God:

Hail Mary. . .

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace that's brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

5. When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

US Sacramentary, prayer in times of war...

Loving God,
look upon us in this time of disaster
and have mercy on us all.
Bring those who have died this day
into your kingdom of peace and joy
and help us all to begin to rebuild our lives with hope.
Protect us, and help us to live for you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

From the Canadian Catholic Bishops book of blessings

A large crowd came to the service as well as to a Rosary at 9 pm.

But this morning I spoke with a very sensitive staff member - filled with fear, whose sense of security has been broken. This is probably the most difficult challenge to face after this tragedy - the security people thought was there has been shattered. This really affects how people react. It leads to a desire for revenge - to get rid of the supposed sources of insecurity. It leads to a challenge to people's faith so that though they may know intellectually the Gospel call to nonviolence they feel called to looking for a solution so that there is no longer a threat.

A listening ear is one of the first things we need. But how can we help people open their hearts to the message of Jesus? How can we help all of us to develop a sense of security (in God) that does not depend on killing? (I think of psalm 33:16-17: The war horse is a vain hope for victory...)

It is a hard time.

But I see a number of our students praying - in a spirit of non-retaliation. They are doing a service tonight and their idea was to try to respond to the anger some are feeling. They will be using the Romans reading in the Bauerschmidt prayer service and the prayers of petition there.

And our associate pastor, at today's Mass, used one of the Eucharistic prayers for Reconciliation. In the preface we pray that vengeance give way. It is totally appropriate for prayer today.

John A. Donaghy

St. Thomas Aquinas Church
and Catholic Student Center
2210 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50014 USA

Vulnerable --we feel vulnerable, God. And we are not used to feeling vulnerable. We are Americans.

Nor are we used to anyone hating us this much. Such terrible acts. Killing civilians.

We are dumbfounded. Lost.

We are good people. We are a nation of peace. We do not seek war. We do not seek violence.

Try to help us remember that how we feel may be how the people of Iraq have felt as we have been bombing them. It is hard for us to acknowledge the we in "We bombed them."

What are we to do. We not only feel vulnerable, we feel helpless. We are not sure what to feel except shock which will quickly turn to anger and even more suddenly to vengeance.

We are Christians. What are we to do as Christians? We know anger will come to us. It does no good for us to tell ourselves not to be angry. To try not to be angry just makes us all the more furious.

You have, however, given us something to do. We can pray. But we wonder for what we can pray. To pray for peace, to pray for the end of hate, to pray for the end of war seems platitudinous in this time.

But of course, when we pray you make us your prayer for the world. So Lord of peace, make of us what you will. This may be one of the first times we have prayed that prayer with an inkling of how frightening prayer is. Help us.

Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst command us to love our enemies, and those who defame and injure us, and to pray for them and forgive them; Who Thyself didst pray for Thine enemies, who crucified thee: grant us, we pray, the spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, that we may heartily forgive every injury and be reconciled with our enemies. Grant us to overcome the malevolence and offences of people with Christian meekness and true love of our neighbor. We further beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant to our enemies true peace and forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life without true faith and sincere conversion. And help us repay evil with goodness, and to remain safe from the temptations of the devil and from all the perils which threaten us, in the form of visible and invisible enemies. Amen.
_______________________

Tobias Winright

Instructor of Religion
Department of Philosophy & Religion
Simpson College
218 Mary Berry Hall
701 North C
Indianola, IA 50125