Where Was God on September 11?

Seeds of Faith and Hope

edited by Donald B. Kraybill, Linda Gehman Peachey

Study Guide written by Cynthia Hockman-Chupp of Canby,Oregon. Hockman-Chupp currently home schools two of her three children. She says she “loves to write curriculum” and extends thanks to the adult class at Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Oregon, who tested parts of this leader’s guide material.

This Study Guide are also available for download in PDF format.

See also Where Was God on September 11? in the MPN online catalog.

Introduction and Learning Styles
Lesson 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3
Chapter 4	Chapter 5 & 6	Chapter 7

Lesson 1 - Introducing the Topic

Early class preparation
Read the preface and first chapter of Where Was God on September 11?

Materials needed:

Pencils and papers
Graffiti paper (described in “Hearing One Another”)
Thin highlighters or colored markers; choose one article from chapter one to read aloud at the conclusion of class time.

1. Sharing our stories

Invite students to recall their experiences on September 11: “Where were you? What was your initial reaction? Who did you know that was personally affected?”

Distribute pencils and papers. Ask students to take three to four minutes to answer, “What are you thinking and struggling with related to the events since September 11? What issues are you facing?”

2. Reflecting on our stories

If you wish, invite students to share their responses in small groups (5 or fewer.) Otherwise, collect the papers and look them over before your next session. Use student concerns to guide your preparation in the coming weeks. If a volunteer is willing to compile a typed list of responses (without contributor’s names), the class will find it helpful to see what others are thinking and feeling.

3. Hearing one another

Prior to class time, prepare graffiti paper: On the top of several 12x18” papers, using black ink, write a topic for study. Write several questions about this topic on each paper:

Topic 1: Where Was God on September 11? Our emotions.
Suggested Questions:

Are you angry? At whom?
Were you afraid? Are you afraid now?
How is your life different today than it was on September 10?

Topic 2: God and country
Suggested Questions:

Should we fly the flag?
If you don’t fly the flag, how do you answer questions of neighbors who do?
Do you say the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
How can we communicate our church history of pacifism to our children?

Topic 3: Terror, anger, and forgiveness
Suggested Questions:

Can Christians forgive terrorists?
Is repentance necessary for forgiveness?
What responsibility do we have to understand Islam, holy war, and the roots of terrorism?

Topic 4: An international kingdom
Suggested Questions:

Does God’s kingdom have borders?
Should Christians fight?
How are we challenged to consider repenting of the “American way of life”?

Topic 5: The things that make for peace
Suggested Questions:

Can we love our enemies?
Does war make peace?
Does revenge bring justice?
Do we as a peace church have a responsibility to communicate our beliefs with neighbors? Our nation?
How should a peace church respond to terrorism?

Divide the class into small groups with three to five students in each group. Give each group a colored pen (a different color for each group) and one of the topic sheets. Say, “Read over the questions on your topic sheet. As you discuss, have one person jot down questions and comments that your group raises regarding these topics. After a few minutes (5-7, depending on time available), you will pass your topic to the next group. You will be able to see the comments and questions from other groups as each sheet is passed through all the groups.”

4. Conversing with the text

Give groups a chance to read over each of the graffiti sheets. What do you notice? Are there surprises?

Concluding the lesson

Read aloud one short selection from chapter one.

Assign chapter two, “Jesus and the Way of Peace.” Ask students to think about Jesus’ message of peace this week: “WWJD, or ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ in response to the events of September 11?”

Conclude by reading Psalm 46 (included at the beginning of the book) or singing “Lord, Let Us Now Depart in Peace” (Hymnal, 428) or “Go Now in Peace” (Hymnal, 428).

Lord, let us now depart in peace, who in thy name are gathered here.

Disclose the brightness of thy face, and be forever near. Amen.

Go now in peace, may the love of God surround you everywhere you may go.

Mennonite Publishing Network