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Message from the District Executive Florida Congregations and links Consultation on Youth Task Force
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Unitarian Universalists Responding to a National Tragedy
Rev. Dr. Richard Speck September 12, 2001 As our country begins to understand the magnitude of the horrific events
of the previous day in Washington, DC, New York City, and in southwestern
Pennsylvania, Unitarian Universalists are responding to this tragedy in
both tangible and intangible ways. We have joined with other religious
and civic leaders around the world in condemning in the strongest terms
the unprovoked attack on innocent civilians as they went about their everyday
lives. We have opened our churches to prayer vigils and worship services
for those killed and injured. The Reverend Bill Sinkford, President of
the Unitarian Universalist Association, stated: "I am appalled by
the tragic events of this day. We hold in our hearts the people injured
and killed. I urge us to come together as a religious community and to
avoid panic. My prayers are with the victims, their families, and our
entire country." He spoke at a worship service at All Souls Unitarian
Church in Washington, DC, Tuesday evening. Many of our congregations will
be having services tonight and in the days following to allow people to
express their grief and fears and find hope to carry on. As people of faith, we deplore violence upon anyone and especially terrorist
acts on innocents. Now is the time to assist our fellow citizens in rebuilding
their lives after this shattering destruction in our country. As of now
it is uncertain who caused this destruction. We will know in the future
who is responsible for this human tragedy and use the force of international
law to deal appropriately with them. Our congregations in the Joseph Priestley
District of the Unitarian Universalist Association are united in opposing
any response to our fellow citizens and foreigners in our country who
might be targeted for revenge just because they practice a certain religion
or are from a certain country. Hatred and retaliation inspired by bigotry
is wrong whether it comes from people from the Middle East or from our
own country. Our Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church, Manassas, VA,
has reached out to the Muslim community to offer sanctuary should that
become necessary. This Sunday our congregations will all be focusing our services on finding
a path to a more peaceful world where events like this past Tuesday are
forever ended. There is a hymn in our hymnal that we are urging to be
sung to the tune of Finlandia. "This is my song, O God of all the
nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine." May we find that
song of peace lifting up the vision of a more peaceful and just world
for each of us in the days and weeks ahead. Yours in the Faith, The Rev. Dr. Richard Speck, District Executive |