A Memorial Service for the Crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia

February 6, 2003

A Prayer for the Space Shuttle Columbia Crew

In a time of national trauma and collective grief, ancient Israel sought to find solace in their public gatherings of faith. Should they turn from God who had not prevented the cause of their pain. Should they gather only to seek solace in one another; or should they seek also the healing of the soul which only God could give. They chose to gather in faith, in a sacred place, as we have done this day. The book of Lamentations has preserved the words of a poet used in their gathering.

The poet wrote:

“The thought of my grief...is bitter like a poison.
I think of it constantly, and my very spirit is depressed within me.
 
Yet, moments of hope return when I remember this one thing:
 
God’s love to his children never ceases,
God’s mercy is eternal, even beyond the vale of death.
Yes, God’s love and mercy are fresh as the morning, and as sure as a new sunrise.
In such times of grief I remember the Lord is all we have;
So in God we put our hope for healing.” (paraphrase of Lamentations 3:19–24)

Let us pray.

God of Love and Mercy, Behold your grief stricken children of the world, especially the people of India, Israel and America. Come be present among us, As we are gathered together in this hour, in this place and beyond.

By the grace of your Spirit, O God, cause each soul to draw deep into the well of their individual faith, thus granting us consolation and healing for our souls.

Finally, our God, as we lift to you in this service things we do not understand, we ask that you would grant us confirmation of your eternal peace for those we love, but see no more. For it is in your eternal love and mercy that we now put our hope. Amen.

The Very Rev. Nathan D. Baxter
Dean of Washington National Cathedral
February 6, 2003