Today marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. In memory of this event and the lives lost, Baptist Memorial Health Care held a systemwide prayer service at 8:59 a.m. with team members attending services led by their chaplains at hospital prayer crosses or joining in the virtual prayer service led by Laveil Rucker, senior chaplain for Baptist Medical Group-Palliative Care.
September also marks the 25th anniversary of the Self Chapel at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, which was recently renovated. On Sept. 11, 2001, Baptist Memorial team members were preparing to hold their first event at 9 a.m. at the new chapel to dedicate Bibles from Gideons International. When the 9/11 attacks began, that ceremony transitioned into a prayer service. Another prayer service was held later in the week at the chapel at Baptist Memphis.
“Many of us remember that when we heard about what was happening the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, this was where we were — here at Baptist, doing what God has called us to do. I remember on that day our first reaction was to gather to pray,” said Rev. Anthony Burdick, system director of Pastoral Care. “Later that week many of us gathered in the new chapel at Baptist Memphis in a special prayer service. Now, 25 years later, it’s appropriate for us to gather again to seek God’s peace for our nation and our world and to pray for His ongoing comfort in the aftermath of a tragedy that changed us all.”
Please watch the following video to hear more from Rev. Burdick.
