Different faiths come together to promote peace and prayer
On a day remembered for shattered buildings and the despair of a nation, the Chosen Gospel Ensemble belted out a powerful reminder inside the Rutledge Chapel that America and its people did recover, did rebuild and do remain strong.
“In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil,” came the 19th century lyrics from “My Hope is Built.” “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
The powerful words led a group of about 30 students who gathered Sunday to mark a painful anniversary while promising to forge ahead one decade after America faced a gripping collective pain.
Themes of finding strength, forgiving others and finding peace in times of sorrow were etched by students of all faiths, who spent Sunday afternoon in deep reflection on passages from the Bible, the Quran and the Torah.
The simple but powerful service — held against a backdrop that included a dressed down altar, set with only two unlit white candles which could have formed an “11” or represented the World Trade Center towers — lasted just 45 minutes.
Its messages came from decades ago, from ancient scripts that have provided solace time and time again.
“Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith,” Methodist Student Network co-president and fourth-year African American studies student Dominique Grate read from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
Mohammed Fatani, a fifth-year biology student and member of the International Student Association and the Muslim Student Association, performed an Islamic chant. Then third-year international business student Firas Freajah, MSA’s president, read passages from the Quran and quotes from Prophet Muhammad, preaching patience, peace and an end to all oppression.
“Oh God, show us the truth as the truth, and enable us to follow it,” Fatani read from the Quran.
Representatives of the Newman Club, a Catholic organization, read Revelation 21:1-7 and then asked everyone to stand for intercessions, praying for the victims and families on each plane, at each attack location, firefighters and other rescue workers, leaders of our nation and here at USC, “that we may work to bring peace to our world.”
The small but thoughtful crowd seemed to enjoy the service.
“I thought it was really beautiful,” said Amanda Coyle, a first-year broadcast journalism student, who said her grandmother worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center but had not been there during the attack. “I had never been to a religious service before. It made everyone feel welcome.”
Chapin Ensminger, a second-year nursing student and member of the Newman Club, said she thought it was a “unique experience for the different organizations to come together to remember everyone affected by 9/11.”
Another Newman Club member, third-year international business student Joseph Welsh, was instrumental in putting the service together. He said that a similar service was held in 2007 and he thought it would be appropriate to have another one on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
“This was building on a lot of interfaith work here at USC,” he said.