Lamentation

September 12, 2001

by the Rev. Elizabeth A. Lerner

We have lost people we knew, people we loved,
    people we never knew, people we will never know.
Their lives were taken in fire, in stone and metal, in earth, in water.
It is hard to pray.
Words fail us and reality belies our prayers
We cannot pray that they did not suffer fear or pain; we know they did,
    some may be suffering even now, while we gather here because
    it is all we can do.
We cannot give thanks for long lives well-lived,
    nor for time to make peace and love before passing.

Yesterday, today, life has been a gorilla, a leviathan,
Something brute we cannot comprehend, that can shatter us and move on
    leaving us with a beautiful day of sunshine and balmy breezes blowing
    dreadful ashes.
How little we can pray for.
To the creative spirit that animates our world.
To the elements of the world that give us life,
    that received those lives yesterday, last night, today.
We pray that their souls are at peace.
From each other and from the world, we ask for help.
May our leaders lead us with wisdom, justice and compassion.
May we all find our way through this labyrinth, somehow, to peace.
Rock, strengthen us.
Rain, receive our doubt.
Sun, receive the anger from our hearts.
Earth, receive our woe.
-- inspired by a piece by Nancy Wood

Hymn #388 - Dona Nobis Pacem

Homilies Rev. Elizabeth Lerner
DRE Mandy Jacobson

Hymn #95 - There is More Love Somewhere

Benediction

These flames symbolize human lives. They are fragile, the can be
extinguished by a gust of air. Even without any interference, the
living flame will eventually consume the candle. Flame kindles flame;
life begets life. The glow, the heat, the passion of life are passed
on, after one candle is extinguished, others are lit. We extinguish
these candles gently, remembering the lives they represent, feeling the
loss of their light in the world, believing in the lights of the lives
still to come. We will not deny our pain, and will work our way through
to hope.

Go in peace.