Reformation Lutheran Church

12 hours ago

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, started as just another Tuesday morning. I arrived as usual at Reading Hospital. Checked in at the office and went to the cafeteria to have a bite of breakfast with some of the kitchen crew. Once back in the Chaplains office my Administrative Assistant, Ruth Ann, reported that a commercial flight had hit one of the Twin Towers in New York City and a fire and rescue effort was underway. While this seemed odd, it was not the first time an airplane had crashed into a tall building in New York. We went about the mornings business, checking in with my staff and monitoring the situation in New York on a CNN feed to my office computer.

I was watching a live feed of the WTC Tower fire when suddenly, seeming out of nowhere, a second plane he the second tower. I was horrified, having just watched hundreds of people die on live TV. And it became obviously clear that both impacts were related and that we were, in fact, under attack. I’m no longer clear on the order of events that morning. The horror continued until 10:28 with the collapse of the second Tower. In between two more attacks, one on the Pentagon and one attack thwarted by passengers on Flight 93 which crashed in western Pennsylvania left us all stunned and in shock.

As all this was unfolding, the phone in the Chaplains office began ringing constantly. Multiple calls from multiple nursing stations reported that nurses and floor staff were shaken and emotional. Nurse Managers were asking for Chaplain support on the units. I didn’t have the personnel available to respond to the calls all at once. Father David Fick, our Priest Chaplain, and my colleague worked to plan a response. We knew we had to act.

Reading Hospitals overhead call system was used exclusively for medical related communication. It also seemed the best way to get support to all our nursing staff at once, but I needed permission to use it in this way. I found Mr. Sullivan, our CEO, in the hallway outside his office. I asked for a moment of his time, just as my emotion spilled over. Mr. Sullivan took me to his office, I collected myself and told him what was happening on nursing units and that I wanted to offer a prayer on the overhead system, and that he could review it first. He just said, “Go head, I don’t need to review it.”

As I went on the hospital overhead system, it seemed the whole house went quiet. I offered a carefully, prayerfully written prayer asking strength and courage to focus on the immediate needs before us, with trust that God would ultimately calm the storm.

Shortly after the overhead prayer, Mr. Sullivan called me to ask if we would plan a 12:00 noon interfaith prayer service that day. I asked him if he wanted to speak at the service and he said he did. Further, Mr. Sullivan wanted a service available to all staff at the change of shift until further notice. The hospital auditorium was standing room only for that first service. Fr. Fick and I did 12 prayer services over four days that week, concluding with a Saturday Morning Service on the steps of the C-Building.

Psalm 121 was the reading at each of the services. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Pastor Greg Stoddard ... See MoreSee Less

Reformation Lutheran Church

1 day ago

Our “Dinner Out” group had a great meal and never-ending conversations this evening. Join us next month, Oct. 8th, at Vincenzo’s Ristorante, 1333 Old Swede Road, Douglassville. ... See MoreSee Less

Reformation Lutheran Church

3 days ago

Our Health Ministry Team is sponsoring a Blood Drive on "God’s work. Our hands." - September 13th (this Sunday!). It will be located in the parish hall from 8 AM - 2:00 PM and will be sponsored by Thrivent Financial. Prizes and lunch will be available for everyone who donates. We ask that you sign up for an appointment on the table in the narthex (8 appointments remain / 24 spots have been filled!) There is a blood crisis in our area. Thanks for giving the Gift of Life! ... See MoreSee Less