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Connections&
January 20, 2002--Second Sunday of the Year
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29-34
The little chapel that could
Across the street from what was once New York's World Trade Center stands historic St. Paul's Chapel. Completed in 1766, St. Paul's is the oldest public building in continuous use in Manhatten--George Washington worshipped in the church following his inauguration as the nation's first President.
Miraculously, the small church survived the collapse of the towers last September 11--some believe a large sycamore tree in the graveyard that was uprooted in the blast shielded the small church with its braches and leaves. The church immediately became a godsend of respite and refreshment for the thousands of police, firefighters and rescue workers at Ground Zero. Two huge charcoal grills were set up on the portico where parishioners grilled hamburgers around the clock for workers; a line of portable toilets was installed in the church's front yard; a large sign welcomed rescue workers to enter the church to eat, rest and pray. St. Paul's clergy and congregation coordinated volunteers and donations of food from local restaurants to provide hundreds of hungry, tired, dirty and often stressed-out rescue workers with everything from coffee and meals to eye drops, clean underwear, and a place to catch a little sleep.
On September 14, the day President Bush designated as a national day of prayer, the rector of St. Paul's asked engineers if they could somehow get into the St. Paul's bell tower to ring the bells. Despite the devastation, two engineers managed to crawl into the wooden tower and, taking an iron rod, beat the bell by hand 12 times. The firemen and volunteers heard the bell, removed their hats and helmets, and paused.
In telling the story to the congregation the following Sunday, the rector said, "Now, God willing, we hope to ring [the bell at St. Paul's] at 12 noon every day as long as we exist, remembering to announce to the world, 'God reigns.'"
[Episcopal News Service; The Christian Century.]
CONNECTION: In opening their doors to the rescue and recovery workers at the site of the World Trade Center devastation, the St. Paul's congregation takes up the cry of the Baptizer: Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, God is in our midst. Everyone of us--of every profession and age group, possessing every talent, skill and ability--have been called, as the Baptizer was called, to declare to our contemporaries that Christ, the Lamb of God, has come. John declared his witness in preaching and baptizing at the Jordan; our witness can be declared in less vocal but no less effective vehicles: in our unfailing compassion for others, in our uncompromising moral and ethical convictions, in our everyday sense of joy and purpose.u
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