Facing our own mortality: Tragedy turned many back to churches

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 11, 2002

Sept. 11 &045;&045; a crises. Amidst all the tears, the confusion and the sorrow, there was something, which those in the church community felt united many in the nation.

According to pastors in the Selma community, whose churches will be holding services today and weeks afterward, people flooded the churches and place of worship like never before, and there was a need for some type of spiritual fulfillment &045;&045;there was a need for God.

Since then, they say, the attendance has dwindled, a fact that they hope to see changed, starting today.

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Starting at 7 a.m., the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, under the direction of the Rev. James K. Polk Van Zandt, will hold a service to honor those who lost their lives during the tragedy.

Polk Van Zandt, who, like many in Selma, said he watched the events of Sept. 11 unfold on television, said the tragedy brought something that many had never really experienced before.

Polk Van Zandt called the decreased attendance since the tragedy &uot;human nature.&uot;

Despite decreasing numbers, Polk Van Zandt said he remains optimistic.

Church Street United Methodist Church Pastor George Sedberry, whose church will be holding a service beginning at noon, said he hoped the remembrance of 9/11 would bring people back to the church.

Dr. Kenny Hatcher, pastor of the Northside Baptist Church, whose church will be holding a service starting at 6:30 p.m. this evening, echoed similar sentiments.

Two of the churches, St. Paul’s Episcopal and Northside, will also have another thing in common.

Members of the Selma Police Department and Fire Department are expected to attend both services. Members from the Dallas County Emergency Management Agency and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department are also expected to attend the service at Northside.