A statement from Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop
of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church,
on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States:
A statement from Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States:
“We are hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed..”
– 2 Corinthians 13:11
Friends, our world changed abruptly 20 years ago when terrorists attacked our nation on September 11, 2001. We have seen how easily buildings can fall and how quickly lives can end. As we enter this time of remembrance, may we be reminded that God alone is our only true security.
And so we ask God, who mends the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, for continued healing – both physical and emotional – for the survivors of the 9/11 attacks.
We ask God, who wipes away every tear from our eyes, for comfort for the families and friends of those who perished.
We ask God, our ever-present help in trouble, for the strength to face the memory of this attack and the changes it made in our lives.
We ask God, who commanded us to “love one another as I have loved you,” to help us show compassion by being there for our neighbors – whether in our own backyard or around the world.
And, while we should “never forget” the assault on peace that – two decades on – still disrupts our lives, we must not let it divert us from our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
So, “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Grace and peace,
L. Jonathan Holston
Resident Bishop
South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed..”
– 2 Corinthians 13:11
Friends, our world changed abruptly 20 years ago when terrorists attacked our nation on September 11, 2001. We have seen how easily buildings can fall and how quickly lives can end. As we enter this time of remembrance, may we be reminded that God alone is our only true security.
And so we ask God, who mends the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, for continued healing – both physical and emotional – for the survivors of the 9/11 attacks.
We ask God, who wipes away every tear from our eyes, for comfort for the families and friends of those who perished.
We ask God, our ever-present help in trouble, for the strength to face the memory of this attack and the changes it made in our lives.
We ask God, who commanded us to “love one another as I have loved you,” to help us show compassion by being there for our neighbors – whether in our own backyard or around the world.
And, while we should “never forget” the assault on peace that – two decades on – still disrupts our lives, we must not let it divert us from our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
So, “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Grace and peace,
L. Jonathan Holston
Resident Bishop
South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church
