Chapel Marks 9/11 with Music, Prayers, Art

Members of the Duke community and beyond came to the Chapel on Saturday, September 11, to honor those who died in the 9/11 attacks, to remember how that day has shaped our country and the world, and to seek hope through prayers, reflections, music, and art. Read more in the Duke Chronicle.

In the morning the Chapel bells tolled at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m., and 10:03 a.m. to mark the times each of the hijacked planes crashed into buildings or the ground. That was followed by an interfaith vigil on the Chapel steps with campus faith leaders joining President Vincent Price and Chapel Dean Luke Powery in commemorating the 9/11 anniversary with prayers, songs, sacred scripture readings, and reflections.

"When we remember the dead, we remember the grief and the loss, but we also remember what is yet to be, we remember our future and try to put our lives back together again. Memory can be difficult and painful, but it is also the space out of which hope rises," Dean Powery said at the vigil.

See a photo essay of the vigil and watch a slideshow:

Inside the Chapel, a new exhibition titled "Call and Response: Remembering Prayer, Protest, and Acts of Justice" presented photographs of past campus vigils and protests, and invited viewers to take with them a "remember" button. The exhibition continues to be on view in the Chapel. See information about visiting the Chapel.

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Graduate student Hananiel Setiawan (left) and Lutheran campus pastor Rev. Amanda Highben view a photograph in the exhibition.

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Graduate student Hananiel Setiawan (left) and Lutheran campus pastor Rev. Amanda Highben view a photograph in the exhibition.

Graduate student Hananiel Setiawan (left) and Lutheran campus pastor Rev. Amanda Highben view a photograph in the exhibition.

In the evening, a program presented by the Chapel and Duke Arts wove together music and readings with themes of remembrance, peace, and reconciliation. Duke Chapel singers, the Ciompi Quartet, and Chapel organist Christopher Jacobson performed the music with Chapel Music Director Dr. Zebulon Highben conducting. Chapel Dean Luke Powery, Professor Leela Prasad, and Imam Abdul Waheed read prayers and poems from a variety of faith traditions. Watch a recording of the concert:

Earlier in the week on Thursday evening, the Chapel's first Choral Vespers service of the semester included music with themes of remembrance in connection to the September 11 anniversary. Watch a recording of the service: