11th September 2026

Memorial services will be held today to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York city. In all, 2,996 died.  The response to that attack has also resulted in huge numbers of deaths, instability across the Middle East, and framed much of US and western foreign policy. Tragically, casualties of injury, death, and misery continue up to the present day.

Loving God, 25 years on from this attack we continue to look to you for strength, understanding, and guidance, and ask you to hear our prayers. We ask your love, comfort and care for all who mourn the deaths of those they loved who died 25 years ago, and in the two and a-half decades since that dreadful day. We pray fervently for an end to violence everywhere. We note how war, conflict, and violence does not bring stability, only fear, trauma, and turmoil.  Bring peace and stability to the many places across the world where people live among death and destruction day by day. Strengthen the faith of your people, draw us ever closer to you and lift up our hearts with the assurance of your loving care and mercy.  Continue to remind us that you teach us to love, even our enemies. We look for that time when swords are turned into ploughshares, spears into pruning hooks and all will experience how good and pleasant it is  when people live together in unity. To you we give glory, honour and praise. In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

Prayer is based on a prayer from the Armenian Church of America.

Four friends have marked ten years since their friend, Luke, died at the age of 26 of liver cancer. So, they walking the 111 miles (180km) from Manchester to Barrow in north west England raising over £10,000 for charity. Josh Bland, Jonny Sloan, Chris Turner and Ben Smith set off from Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester and arrived at Barrow Golf Club having battled through “horrendous” pouring rain, and excruciating pain.  During the past ten years the friends have undertaken a regular 40-mile walk from Keswick to Barrow that has raised over £90,000 for The Christie Cancer Hospital and other cancer charities. This 111 mile challenge took it one step further and was the result of 12 months of planning and preparation. They were supported along the way by friends and family who joined-in for different sections of the walk.  Chris said: “The reception we got at the finish was incredible and is a testament to the continued love and support shown to our mate Luke, which made any aches and pains we had pale into insignificance.”  Josh said, "we’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of so many people.”

Psalm 36:5-9 (NRSV)

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

your judgements are like the great deep;

you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light we see light.