The Elon University Chaplain's Office kicked off its new Sundays @ 5 series of ecumenical worship services on Sept. 8 at the Elon Community Church. The service also marked the official start of Elon's Week of Remembrance of the Sept. 11 attacks...
Dr. George Braswell, professor of world religions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, gave a sermon titled “Sticks and Stones and Words and Wonders.” Braswell spoke of his time as a Baptist missionary in Iran, where he moved with his wife in 1967. He taught at the University of Tehran for seven years, training Muslim preachers.
Braswell was en route to Raleigh to give a talk at a retirement center when he heard about the World Trade Center attacks on the radio. His talk, scheduled four months earlier, was titled, “Islam and Jihad.” Braswell drew upon his background to answer questions about the Muslim faith.
Braswell said that like those in the United States, the 1.3 billion Muslims in the world are hurting from the 9/11 attacks. “They would never have had that happen in the name of their God,” he said. “It’s a time for us to reach out and understand people.”
After the sermon, Darian Jackson sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Prayers and hymns we also offered throughout the service.
“God is still speaking!” is the theme of the Sundays @ 5 series. Chaplain Richard McBride welcomed the opportunity for community worship. “This idea that God is still speaking is quite an old idea within the United Church of Christ,” he said, adding that the theme is still quite relevant today.
Kate Colussy-Estes, assistant chaplain and director of religious life at Elon, and Rev. Dian Jackson, associate pastor of Elon Community Church, also participated in the service. Colussy-Estes hopes to see students participate in future services. “As we continue, each week will take on a different flavor,” she said.
Next week’s Sundays @ 5 offering is a “Service for Healing,” Elon’s final Week of Remembrance activity.