Print Issue: September 5, 2002

Archbishop Among Those To Attend Ecumenical 9-11 Service At Ebenezer Baptist Church

By Rebecca Rakoczy, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - Remembrance, Reflection and Healing. That's the theme of the special ecumenical service planned for Sept. 11 at Ebenezer Baptist Church to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks in the United States one year ago on that day.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue will be among those dignitaries attending the event sponsored by the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta. Others attending include Gov. Roy Barnes and Iman Plemon El-Amin, the imam of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, and Sherry Frank, executive director of the Southeastern Area American Jewish Committee.

The alliance was formed right before Sept.11, 2001 and brings together Atlanta-area leaders from many diverse religious backgrounds to identify shared values related to the role of religion in public life, as well as look for ongoing ways to support mutual projects together. The service is the result of months of planning between leaders representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim, B'hai, Buddhist and Hindu religions.

Msgr. Henry Gracz, pastor of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, is on the steering committee of the organization that seeks to build bridges of understanding rather than strife between differing religions.

"This really can be a moral voice for faith in the city, the voice has a strong commonality and so many people of faith," he said. Many other members of the Catholic community have been involved in helping plan the service, he said, and there is much good in that, "the power of our Catholic faith connected with people of conviction can speak to our common purpose."

That common purpose for Sept.11 will be one of both mourning and healing. The special service at the historic Auburn Avenue church will begin outside the church at 8:30 a.m. At 8:46 a.m., those attending will stop their procession into the church as the time when the first plane hit the first World Trade Tower is marked; at 9:03 a.m., there will be a moment of silence to reflect on those who lost their lives as the second World Trade Tower was hit.

The order of the service includes the processional to be led by Jeffrey MacIntyre, organist of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a greeting by Doug Gatlin, acting chairman of Faith and the City.

After a Koranic chanting recitation by Qari Muhammad Khurshid Ali, of the Al-Farooq mosque, Rabbi Analia Bortz, and Rabbi Mario Karpuj of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue will read from Psalm 121.

Msgr. Gracz will participate in a special reading "We Remember Them."

The benediction will be given by Rabbi Josh Lesser of the Congregation Bet Haverim; with recessional "Fanfare for the Common Man," by composer Aaron Copeland, given by MacIntyre of the Shrine.

For information or directions to the church, which is located at 407 Auburn Ave. in downtown Atlanta, call (404) 688-7263.