Honor the “Six Moments of Silence” on 9/11

Download the “Service of Prayer for Remembering and Grieving the Events and Loss of Live of 9/11/2021,”

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Among the thousands killed that day were 16 members of the Diocese of New Jersey.

Each year, congregations and individuals in the diocese remember the events of Sept. 11 by honoring the “Six Moments of Silence,” commemorating in real time the crucial moments of that day, beginning with the tolling of church bells during the first moment of silence.

The diocese has prepared a “Service of Prayer for Remembering and Grieving the Events and Loss of Live of 9/11/2021,” a service used in previous years at Trinity Cathedral and elsewhere in the diocese. All are free to use it, or to commemorate the events in other ways.

The Six Moments of Silence

1. 8:46:40: Ringing of church bells. Flight 11 crashes into the north face of the North Tower (1 WTC) of the World Trade Center, between floors 93 and 99.
2. 9:03:02: Flight 175 crashes into the south face of the South Tower (2 WTC) of the World Trade Center, between floors 77 and
3. 9:37:46: Flight 77 crashes into the western side of The Pentagon and starts a violent
4. 9:59:00: The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses, 56 minutes after the impact of Flight 175.
5. 10:03:11: Flight 93 is crashed by its hijackers as a result of fighting in the cockpit 80 miles (129 km) southeast of Pittsburgh in Somerset County,
6. 10:50:19: Five stories of part of the Pentagon collapse due to the fire

At each annual Diocesan Convention since 2004, the people and clergy have affirmed or re-affirmed this method of commemoration. The most recent convention approving this wording:

Further Resolved that we continually pray for all those lost on September 11, 2001, and all others lost at the hand of terrorism and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the days since the attacks, and for those who still suffer in body and mind as a result of terrorist attacks and for all those we call peacemakers, and that Churches of the Diocese join in observing the Six Moments of Silence, which mark the loss of life in NYC, PA, and Washington D.C. and that the secretary of this convention forwards a copy of this resolution be sent to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church and the House of Bishops.

The effects of 9/11 continue to be felt by victims, their families and loved ones, the country and the world. In this moment of commemoration, we reach out to God for the healing power of the Holy Spirit, and join together as a community in Christ, to discern his will for our lives and to seek the path toward greater justice for all. Please join in this community on Sept. 11 by observing the Six Moments of Silence, and remembering in your prayers all whose lives were changed that day, most particularly the 16 of our community who lost their lives.