Print Issue: September 19, 2002

'I Didn't Want To Go Home And Turn The TV On' Parishioners At St. Brendan's Remember 9-11 In Taizé-Style Service

A cross rests on the steps of the altar surrounded by candlelight during a Taizé service in remembrance of Sept. 11 at St. Brendan Church, Cumming. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

CUMMING - To remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, St. Brendan's Church, Cumming, held a Taizé style prayer service - modeled after those at the Taizé ecumenical Christian monastery in France founded during World War II to foster reconciliation between Christians in Europe.

Many of those who attended the evening service wore T-shirts that read FDNY, "United We Stand." The T-shirts were provided to them by members of Engine 1, Ladder 24 of the New York Fire Department who visited the parish in February to raise money for victims' families.

While dozens of candles flickered around the Franciscan cross set on the altar steps of the dimly lit church, attendees repeated the short Taizé chants over and over again, including "Within our darkest night, you kindle the fire that never dies away," and "Veni Sancte Spiritus." With piano, violin and cello accompaniment, music and liturgy director Paul Tate and music assistant Deanna Light led the congregation in the chant, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack."

Only the gurgling of a few babies could be heard during several minutes of silence in the middle of the service. Towards the end of the program, congregants lined up to venerate the cross by touching or kneeling before it. Concluding the service, Forsyth County Fire Department members Danny Bowman and Joe McNamara, a St. Brendan's member, led a silent procession carrying a wreath with red carnations as parishioners carried the candles from the altar steps. They all walked out to the parish's Serenity Lane garden while singing "All Will Be Well."

The garden, which has benches and a tiny pond with a stone carving of St. Brendan the Navigator, surrounded by lily pads and the calming sound of water flowing over rocks and chirping crickets, gives a tiny taste of the tranquility of Taizé, which is set in the bucolic southern French countryside.

As participants placed their candles and wreaths on the grass near a sign that read, "Never Forget, FDNY, Engine 1, Ladder 24," they sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America." One man started singing impromptu "America, the Beautiful," after which others joined with him.

(L-r) Bagpiper Lisa McDonald of the Atlanta Pipe Band, Forsyth County volunteer firefighter Joseph McNamara and Division Fire Chief Danny Bowman of the Forsyth County Fire Department lead a procession to the parish serenity garden where a wreath was laid in memory of the victims of Sept. 11.

Afterwards, people walked back to their cars in the quiet of the beautiful summer evening.

"It just felt like the right place to be with my son," said Shannon Foley, who brought her 7-year-old with her to the service. "I just didn't want to go home and turn the TV on ... As an American I feel a sense of loss. I just wanted to be at church with God, praying," she said.

"It's on your mind of course with the anniversary coming up. Every day you think about it, every day I say a prayer," Foley said. "I'm really glad I came. I got some emotions out that had been pent up the last couple weeks. I thought it was a beautiful service."

Linda Davis and her 9-year-old son Brian participate in the candlelight wreath-laying ceremony following the Taizé service in remembrance of Sept. 11 at St. Brendan Church, Cumming.

Co-chair of the liturgy committee Kathy Sexton said that the parish began holding Taizé services earlier in the year and that planners thought it would be appropriate to hold one in the morning and evening for the memorial to bring a spirit of healing and peace to the community.

"It's the kind of prayer with the repetition, it makes you pray at one with the rest of the world," she said. "This morning we had a lot of people. We lit candles at each time a tragic event occurred a year ago. That was something that helped us bring the spirit of resurrection....It was very comforting, but it does bring to mind that peace begins with us. We pray for peace for the world, but we have to be a peace-filled people. This is a place where people come to be free and it is up to us to make sure people can be free. I was overwhelmed with the services myself, just humbled to be here."

Bowman, who is the Forsyth County Fire Department division chief, recalled being overwhelmed when he met with the N.Y. firemen who visited the parish in February. "I was taken aback by their thankfulness to have survived the event and yet even after having come so close to death they were ready to get back to work."

A Baptist, Bowman said his faith was not shaken by the attacks and believes he'll only likely understand more when "I go home." He expressed gratitude for all the support St. Brendan's members have shown him. "The congregation could not have been more kind to me and my wife after 9/11," he said. "I'm beyond honored. I accept the invitation to come here in remembrance. All the congregation here has greeted me and my men in the most respectful manner imaginable."

On the wall between the doors into the worship space was a framed picture with a proclamation of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners declaring Feb. 24 as FDNY Engine 1, Ladder 24 Day, and a declaration by that engine division naming pastor Father Willie Hickey as honorary chaplain. It also has the prayer of the FDNY chaplain Father Mychal Judge who died in the line of duty in the attacks: "Lord take me where you want me to go, let me meet who you want me to meet, tell me what you want me to say and keep me out of your way."