May We Never Forget
Dear Friends,
The inscription on the artwork commissioned for Ladder No.10/Engine No.10 says it all. The fire station suffered a huge loss on that Tuesday 10 years ago. The station was (is) right across the street from the World Trade Center, and when the planes hit the building and people began streaming out into the street, these firemen (among many others in the FDNY) began to run into the stricken buildings. The men from that station all died, and their surviving colleagues who were off that day chose to honor them with a bronze bas-relief along the sidewalk. See it here and read
FDNY Memorial Wall
the inscription: MAY WE NEVER FORGET.
Remembrance is one of the greatest abilities we have; it is a gift from God. A person’s faith is always dependent on memory. The great moments of the Bible and the great celebrations in the church are all dependent on looking back to see God’s incredible faithfulness, His judgment, His hand in motion, or His deliverance. The Passover, the Lord’s Supper, Christmas, Easter, and everything we do in church is about remembering (e.g., “Do this in remembrance of me”).
The 10th anniversary of 9/11 will be a major moment to remember on every broadcast network. We will all get the coverage “wall to wall”, as they say. But it is incumbent upon all believers to see the events of 9/11 as part of God’s sovereign story over our nation. We need to remember 9/11. We should NEVER forget that day because that day has defined this generation and the painful reality that we all have to live with.
So what should be your response? I think every Christian should be in church this weekend. This is one of those moments when we need to come together as a community and a nation to “remember” the events of September 11th and ask for God’s great blessing and strength for our nation, our communities, and our families. Please be here so that we can remember together. (With respect, I will add that I think Mayor Bloomberg’s refusal to allow any religious prayers at the memorial event in New York is a tragic mistake. But that will not preclude us here in Plano from gathering for prayer on that day.) I hope you will be here.
Until then, here are a few things you need to know:
This Saturday!
Roof Dog Run This Saturday!
You can no longer use the weather as an excuse! It’s a beautiful week for running and you still have a few days to sign up for the 6th Annual Roof Dog Run. I love this event, and it has become a great tradition at Christ Church. Better yet, it is a way to serve and care for the children in our orphanage in Peru. Won’t you support the Roof Dog Run? Even if you can’t come, consider the “sleep-in” option. Register here.
Have You Been “Friended”?
No, I’m not talking about Facebook. I’m wondering if you have friends at Christ Church that you can gather with over the next two months for the purpose of study. I have been working hard on a sermon series called “Friended” about the life of Abraham, who was described in the Bible as a friend of God. Fr. Jason has put together some accompanying study materials meant for use in Small Groups. I hope you will take advantage of these to enrich your growth through this series. If you would like to join a group or view the Small Group study materials, start here.
Holy Land Trip
If you are interested in the Holy Land Trip that Fran and I will lead (Jan 30 – Feb 8, 2012) please contact my office for information. There are a few more spots available and we would love for you to consider coming along. It’s a trip of a lifetime, and a great pilgrimage for any Christian.
Franklin Graham and Josh Havens visiting on a recent trip.
Josh Havens Update
Last week, Josh returned from a trip with his daughter, Adeline, to Rwanda. He visited the various projects that Africa New Life is doing there, including a genocide refugee resettlement project and some school projects. Josh also continues to tour with his band, The Afters, and work in conjunction with the Franklin Graham’s ministry, Samaritan’s Purse. When Josh is not worshiping with us here at Christ Church, you can keep up with his travels and ministry here.
Simeon Fellowship Annual Gathering
Part of my work in and around the Anglican Communion involves my membership in the Simeon Fellowship. This is a peer-to-peer fellowship of rectors from around the country. We aim to facilitate and encourage Anglican church planting throughout North America. Next week, we will have our annual gathering here in Dallas. Read more about it and register here.
I look forward to seeing you this weekend.
In Christ,
David+
