It was called "A Community Service of Commemoration of September 11, 2001," and it was one of the most religiously diverse assemblies I’ve ever attended. It was held at a Lutheran church, the sermon was given by a Presbyterian minister, a "Blessing" was bestowed by a Roman Catholic priest, and prayer was led by a Churches of Christ minister.

  Moreover, there was a reading from the Psalms by an Hispanic in both Spanish and English, and another reading from the Old Testament in Hebrew and English by a representative of a Jewish synagogue. And there was a reading from the Koran by a Muslim from the Islamic Society of Denton. The mayor of Denton read an impressive "Proclamation," which concluded with: "Therefore, be it resolved that all citizens in the city and county join together in a Community Service of Commemoration on Monday, September 11, 2006, at Christ Lutheran Church to pray for peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, and hope."

  It was almost as unusual for a Churches of Christ minister to be part of such a gathering as for a Muslim. I am thankful to have lived to see this happening among my own people. For decades I attended ecumenical gatherings of this sort as the only one from Churches of Christ. This time around it was the preacher, Ouida, and I. We’re getting there! I do not buy the objection that we "fellowship people in error" to take part in such gatherings. We are all "in error" – only about different things – and it is just as well that we not judge others. At the judgment it might be better to be found accepting people we might have rejected than to reject those that we should have accepted. Our Lord chose to resolve that by accepting everyone!

  Besides, there are different levels of "fellowship." If I am not in Christian fellowship with a Jew or a Muslim, I am in community fellowship with him. I can meet and pray with anyone on the grounds of common humanity and a concern for peace, justice, and decency in our troubled world. We have a common bond with all who seek truth in whatever form it comes,

  If a Muslim listens to me when I read from the Bible, I should have no problem listening to him as he reads from the Koran. On this occasion the selections from the Koran made reference to God’s forgiveness and peace among all humanity. After all, there is truth in the Koran, and all truth comes from God.

  There will never be peace until there is trust, and there will never be trust so long as we have nothing to do with each other. If people who are different from each other religiously will do no more than get together and listen to each other, it would do wonders. We don’t have to argue, just listen and try to understand what the other believes.

  The occasion struck me as a reversal of 9/11 of 2001 to see Christians, Jews, and Muslims doing something decent together – and together praying for forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. We are more likely when we are together like that to realize that we all need to repent before God, however we understand him.

  Some things in the service I found especially poignant, such as when we sang together "This Is My Song," which begins with This is my song, O God of all nations, a song for peace for lands afar and mine. And the passion with which the Presbyterian minister read the beatitudes, and when he noted that 9/ll has become a national icon, not unlike Pearl Harbor. But let it be an icon of peace and brotherhood rather than of fear and hate, he urged. And when the Churches of Christ minister appropriately addressed the Father of us all as the God of Abraham and the God of Moses as well as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  And I was impressed that there was a pew full of firemen, who were there by special invitation. A back pew was reserved for them, for they were on duty and might have to make a quick exit to go on one more dangerous mission. An offering was taken for the Red Cross, and there was a representative there from the Red Cross to receive it.

Then there was a "Prayer of Remembrance," which we all prayed in unison. It concluded with:

This was followed by a time for silent prayer.