God Bless Midland! 9/11 Community Remembrance Services
by Valerie Hale, God Bless Midland! Coach, 9/11 Remembrance Service
Click here to watch video the 9/11 Remembrance Service online.
Click here to view a photo gallery of this event.
This past Sunday was a very special time in the life of our country and First United Methodist Church of Midland, as we took time to somberly reflect on the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation, and to remember the almost 3,000 souls who perished and honor our First Responders and active Military personnel and their families.
The latest God Bless Midland! event, the 10th Anniversary Remembrance of 9-11, was a wonderful blessing for the congregation and community with over 1,600 people attending the three services. The Sanctuary and grounds were draped in red, white and blue, and each participant received a flag and wooden cross with “God Bless the USA!” on one side and “9.11.11” on the reverse.
Together we remembered and celebrated hope through word and song. The children led us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moving rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” by our choir (you sounded fabulous!). Congressman Mike Conaway, City Councilwoman Vicky Hailey, Chief of Police Price Robinson and former U. S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans shared their recollections and reflections of the attacks. Dr. Walker brought a message of hope and faith, inviting us to hold onto the wooden cross we each received and to remember because, “Hope lives when people remember.”
Each of the three services concluded with songs by Nashville music star Lee Greenwood. I heard several people remark that they came expecting to hear wonderful patriotic music, but they were surprised and moved by the deep message of faith that he also shared. The service concluded with Mr. Greenwood’s hit song and unofficial anthem of 9-11, “God Bless the USA”, as the choir and congregation rose to their feet, waved their flags and sang along to the famous chorus. I think I speak for everyone present when I say I truly was “Proud to be an American” in that moment!
I want to thank the scores of enthusiastic and caring members that made Sunday a day to remember. Each one of you has blessed me more than I can say with your servant hearts and willingness to put others before yourself simply because you love Christ and chose to “Bless Midland.” We had a wonderful Septemberfest team, prayer team, usher team, decorators (including those who steamed and ironed!), musicians, singers and dozens of our members who showed up early to greet, hand out flags and crosses, direct traffic and love on our guests.
Most of all I want to thank Dr. Walker for his vision to “Bless Midland” and our awesome staff that stood by with inspiration, enthusiasm and hard work. Not once did I hear a staff member say “We can’t do that,” even when it required scaling the heights of the Sanctuary, moving hundreds of hymnals, polishing floors into the night, producing reams of paperwork, meetings and more meetings…forsaking time with their own families and arriving before daybreak Sunday to make this event a blessing. They did it all with joy and competency and much patience and each one of you blessed me!
May the spirit of 9-11 be with us always and may we look to the future with hope, together, trusting in God “for he is our refuge.”
God Bless Midland!
