A Pastoral Letter to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
from the General Assembly Council Meeting
in Tempe, Arizona on
September 29, 2001

Thank you. . .Thank you for prayers, worship services, and remembrances; for acts of compassion, giving blood, helping in the search and rescue; for generous donations and countless other deeds of caring in response to the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Thank you for embodying the living Christ.

Thank God for our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) governing bodies and national staff, for their prompt response to the needs of pastoral care, worship resources, disaster assistance, and background information on interfaith understanding.

We thank God that:

• our grief has united us rather than divided us;
  
• we have received messages expressing prayer and support from our partner churches around the world;
  
• emergency responders, construction workers, and caregivers continue to give of their time and efforts;
  
• the President, his administration, and Congress are seeking international collaboration in fashioning a measured response;
  
• alternative strategies to the use of lethal force are being used.

Let us:

• pray for our men and women in the armed forces and their families;
• pray for leaders of our nation and of the world;
• pray for people living in the shadow of grief and in fear of violence;
• pray for those we understand to be our enemies (Matthew 5:44);
• pray for one another and do not forget the children;
• pray for humility.

• act to ensure basic civil liberties for all;
  
• resolve not to use inflammatory language or scapegoat individuals and groups; 
• learn about other faith traditions and cultures as well as from our Christian brothers and sisters who live in those cultures;
  
• continue acts of care and compassion;
  
• seek the things that inspire peace and hope.

God of grace and God of glory, . . . grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour.

Reverend Jeffrey G. Bridgeman	Dr. Adelia D. Kelso	Elder John J. Detterick
Chair	Vice-Chair	Executive Director
General Assembly Council	General Assembly Council	General Assembly Council