FW: prayers

[Donald Schell]

Dear friends,

This is the appeal for prayers that we have put out to our congregation in
San Francisco.  Pieter, thank you for your good words and continuing prayers
from Holland.

Dear friends,

Most of us, I imagine have heard the news of what have been almost certainly
coordinated terrorist attacks, three or more hijacked airplanes crashed, the
destruction of the World Trade Center, and the fearful waiting to see what
other acts could still  be perpetrated.

Today must be a day of prayers.

For St. Gregory's people in the East Bay, please gather at Leesy's house
which will be open for prayers through the day.  I and others nearby the
church will see that the church stays open for prayers all day.  Please join
us if you are in the City or nearby and are moved to pray with us.


-- please offer your prayers for wise response from those in power,
particularly for our President.  We have seen a cycle of retaliatory
violence and revenge sweep us into its killing grip.  Pray that we find some
response that will not escalate terror.

-- please offer your prayers for all those working to give aid and relief to
the injured in New York, in Washington, near Pittsburgh, and wherever else
people sustain harm from these desperate acts of violence,

-- please pray for those who are grieving now and those who will be grieving
as the immediate personal connections to these deaths and injuries became
known.

-- and pray for us all, for the people of the world, for a bitterly divided
humankind now even more frightened than usual at what we can do and have
done to each other.  Pray for Christian, Muslim, and Jews who love peace and
God.  Pray for any whose hearts are so saturated with rage that they are
prepared to kill.  Prayer that tragedy and violence move us all to
peacemaking when it seems impossible.

One of the downed planes was bound for San Francisco, and it may be that
among us in these tragedies some of us may hear that we have lost friends or
relatives.

Steve is a the church office and we intend to use office and this e-mail
list as a way to stay in touch with the St. Gregory's community.  Leslie and
I have talked and both think that some kind of prayer service or Eucharist
late in the day or this evening would be a good thing.  She is working on
determining a good place in the East Bay and I'm thinking of the church on
this side of the Bay.  If anyone wants to propose a Marin or San Mateo
County gathering, please let us know.  We will keep you posted via e-mail
and probably phone tree as it becomes clear whether such a gathering will be
feasible.  The question at this point, of course, is heeding civil
authorities requests about transporation and gatherings.

Our prayers unite us.

much love,
donald