Remember 9/11 at the “Building Hope” Commemoration

Continuing Tacoma Mama coverage of September 11 10 year anniversary we will bring you some more events which is a part of Immanuel Presbyterian Church's special worship service tomorrow. 

"Building Hope" is the theme of a series of Tacoma events to commemerate the 10 year anniversary of the horrible September 11 terrorists attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon. Building Hope - 9/11 10 Year Rememberance is orgainized by Univeristy of Puget Sound's Officce of Spirituality, Service and Social Justice in partnership with Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Thursday, September 8, the public will hear from a panel of community leaders, who will reflect on their experience of the events of 9/11 and what has happened since. The panel will include Glen Hiemstra, founder of Futurist.com, a national consultancy offering expertise  on future trends and long-range planning; Kathleen Merryman, columnist for The News Tribune; Marilyn Strickland, mayor of the City of Tacoma; Michael Segawa, dean of students at University of Puget Sound; and Imari Romeo ’14, Puget Sound student social justice coordinator.

The free panel event, titled September 11, 2001: Memories, Meanings, Lessons, and Hope, is open to the public and will be held at Kilworth Memorial Chapel at the north end of the Puget Sound campus, from 7 to 9 p.m. The panel will explore questions including: Are we different now because of September 11? What has been gained? What has been lost?  What needs to change? How do we build hope?

On Sunday, Sept. 11 at 10:30 a.m., an interfaith service focusing on building hope through prayer, poetry, and music will be led by Rev. David Wright, chaplain at Puget Sound, and Rev. Dave Brown, of Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Puget Sound students from the college’s Interfaith Council will help lead the service.

Later the same day, from 1–1:45 p.m. in Kilworth Memorial Chapel, campus and community members are invited to gather for readings from different religious traditions, to take time for silent prayer and reflection, and to simply gather in community with one another. Everyone, of all religious and spiritual practices, including those who do not identify with a particular religion or belief, are welcome to attend.

Late in the afternoon on September 11, a Building Hope Concert and Blues Vespers benefit will take place, starting at 5 p.m. at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. The vespers will feature the New York blues guitarist Bill Sims Jr., acclaimed guitarist Adam Levy, and Mark LaVoie on harmonica, along with Seattle band Rod Cook & Toast. All proceeds will go toward the Habitat for Humanity International building program in Guatemala. The performers also will give a free lunchtime show at Puget Sound in Wheelock Student Center on Monday, Sept. 12.  

Photo courtesy of Andrew Coulter Enright