Toolbox For Faith

Since the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks occurs on a Sunday, the question which naturally arises is - “What is the church going to do to mark the anniversary?” My initial reaction was simply to focus on themes of forgiveness, peace and grace, but as I talked to Don Lorfing, pastor of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, NV, he shared an idea for putting those themes into action. On September 11th at Good Samaritan, the congregation is going to sign cards of appreciation for first responders in their community - police, fire, rescue, etc. The cards (and if I remember correctly cookies) will be delivered to these agencies by folks from the church on Sunday. To me, recognizing the sacrifice, caring and commitment of those who serve in our community seemed like a helpful and positive way to acknowledge the anniversary. On a day when many folks will be reliving those tragic events, this seems like a positive way to focus on caring, compassion and hope.