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

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The Faith Alliance for Metro Atlanta hosted an interfaith Service of Remembrance, Reflection, and Healing on September 11, 2002, 8:30-10:30 at Ebenezer Baptist Church at 400 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia. The Horizon Sanctuary of Ebenezer, as the current home of a congregation once pastored by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was an ideal location for the Service of Remembrance, Relection, and Healing. Participants included Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and representatives from the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Jewish faiths.


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The service was televised live by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters, which provided video feeds to other television outlets, many of which covered the service along with print publications and radio stations.


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Harmony: Atlanta's International Youth Chorus in residence at Emory University participated with nearly 100 children, who processed into the Horizon Sanctuary shortly before the program began.


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A color guard preceded the procession of public safety officers and the procession of clergy that opened the Service of Remembrance, Reflection, and Healing.


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Officers of local police and fire departments, including emergency medical services, processed into the Horizon Sanctuary.


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The clergy pictured here were among more than two dozen, representing a range of faith traditions throughout the metro area, who joined together in a processional into the sanctuary as part of opening activities.


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Participants in the service included leaders from houses of worship, faith-based community organizations, higher education, and government. In the front row from left: Doug Gatlin, Faith And The City; Qari Muhammad Khurshid Ali, Al-Farooq Masjid; Rabbi Analia Bortz, Ahavath Achim Synogogue; Mayor Shirley Franklin, City of Atlanta; Governor Roy Barnes, State of Georgia; Rev. Dr. Joseph Roberts Jr., Ebenezer Baptist Church; Imam Plemon El-Amin, Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam; Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Providence Missionary Baptist Church; and Rabbi Joshua Lesser, Congregation Bet Haverim.


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Doug Gatlin of Faith And The City, in his role as acting chair of the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, brought opening remarks for the service.


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Georgia Governor Roy Barnes brought a message on "Remembrance" from the service theme of Remembrance, Reflection, and Healing. Seated behind him are (from left) Rabbi Analia Bortz, Ahavath Achim Synogogue; and Mayor Shirley Franklin, City of Atlanta. Governor


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"We Remember Them" was read by (from right): Rev. Msgr. Henry C. Gracz, Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Rev. Jane Fahey, Trinity Presbyterian Church; and Swami Yogeshananda, Vedanta Center of Atlanta.


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Harmony: Atlanta's International Youth Chorus, under the musical direction of Joyce Ketchie Carr, performed international and multicultural works for the service.


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Rev. Dr. Joseph Roberts Jr., pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, spoke on "Reflection," from the service theme of Remembrance, Refection, and Healing.


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Representatives of four faiths offer sacred readings from their respective religious traditions as part of the Service of Remembrance, Reflection, and Healing. From the left: Imam Plemon El-Amin, Islamic; Jules Leni, Christian; Josie Reynolds, Baha'i; and Dr. P.V. Rao, Hindu.


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Buddhist drummers offer a musical interlude during the interfaith Service of Remembrance, Reflection, and Healing. Drummers are Brother Gyoshu Utsumi (left) and Sister Denise Laffan of the Nipponzan Myohoji Atlanta Dojo, with Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley of Providence Missionary Baptist Church looking on.


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Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin addressed "Healing," from the service theme of Remembrance, Refection, and Healing.


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Participants, chorus, and congregation joined together in singing "God Bless America," at the conclusion of the Service of Remembrance, Reflection, and Healing -- hosted by the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta.