September 11 Interfaith Service Hosted by Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, September 11, 2002

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Remarks by Doug Gatlin

Ladies and gentlemen, between the wonderful singing of Harmony -- Atlanta's International Youth Chorus -- and the Multi-Faith Procession of Clergy -- we ask you to join with others, all over Metro Atlanta, in a moment of silence. Today, the Jewish Community is between Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During this time the shofar, a ram's horn, is blown to signify many things. We blow it today to signify those we have lost and a heralding call to rebuild our world. At 8:46, -- when the first tower was hit, a sounding of the shofar will begin that moment -- of prayer, reflection and meditation. At the end, a chime will sound and our music will resume. Thank you.

Good Morning, good morning and welcome -- everyone.

It is a good morning and I am thankful. Not only for many blessings but also for challenges that we are given that enable us to grow.

Welcome to a service of Remembrance, Reflection and Healing, an Inter-faith / Multi-faith program from the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta.

The Faith Alliance was born out of the events of September 11th. Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other faiths decided that we ought to get to know each other better now and not wait for another tragedy to bring us together.

The Faith Alliance is dedicated to understanding. To cooperation, dialogue and respect among the millions of people -- of the many faith traditions -- that the Atlanta region is increasingly blessed with.

We are all here today to seek solace and understanding from the wisdom of many faiths; as we remember, reflect and seek healing on this anniversary of a shocking, terrible moment in all of our lives here in the United States -- and in America's life in the wider world.

We've all asked ourselves many questions since that morning, one year ago. The answers to those difficult questions are very hard to find. I think they will have to come from that place within us where we hear our God, whatever name we call our God.

Our God is alive and wants to guide us. And is here, with us, today.

On behalf of the entire Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, I thank you all for coming.

At 9:03 the chime will sound again and we will observe another moment of silence at the time the second tower was struck.

We invite you to find peace in your heart and life and to share it in the world.