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KANSAS CITY, MO.-- Hope, renewal and diversity will be the focus of interfaith programs marking the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The metro Kansas City Interfaith Council has designed a series of activities with a theme of "A Day of Hope."
    "By celebrating the religiously diverse resources available to us, the observance is intended to deepen our sense of kinship with one another as residents of the region, as Americans, and as citizens of the world," said the Rev Vern Barnet, convener of the Council.
    "We are pleased that performers from the arts community will add to the spiritual character of the observance, and we are grateful to the many organizations and vendors who have made donations to make this day possible. Our web site now lists over 40 religious events in Kansas City joining with our interfaith witness for understanding.
    "Our city has responded to last year's horror by reaching out to those of other faiths in friendship and support. We have learned much about our neighbors, and our trust is stronger. Even as we grieve the past, we have many reasons to hope," he said. "We want to explore how the wound of 9/11 can be both honored and healed, and how we can live in the future in faithfulness to what we have learned."
    To assist in metro-wide awareness, events at a central location are being coordinated with satellite events. In the event of questionable weather for outdoor observances, please check the www.cres.org/911 website for information early Wednesday morning.
    Beginning at 5:30 am, children and adults will gather at Ilus Davis Park at 11th and Oak (or, in case of rain, in the courtyard of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W 13th at Broadway), to be with one another as the day begins. The "Monk and Kelly Show," Star 102 Radio, will broadcast the event live, with interviews. [Schools participating and other details below.] At 7 am, representatives of many faith groups will join them.  A brief ceremony will use water gathered from fountains all over the metro area which will be distributed to the participants to use in their own faith groups later in the day, symbolically connecting all faiths and all geographical areas of the community. This will be videotaped and free copies available by advance arrangement for those wishing to use it later in the day. Streaming video may also be available.
    From Ilus Davis Park, the participants will process to Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, where prayers from individual faiths will be offered and the names of victims read. Bells will toll at times marking the four attacks of September 11, 2001.
    A central observance at 6:30 pm will explore the civic and religious meanings, honor those whose lives were lost, and recognize the contributions of emergency-preparedness personnel. Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, Kansas City Star columnist Bill Tammeus and speakers from the Interfaith Council will join with musical offerings from several cultures in memory and renewal.
    Following a prelude by John Schaefer, Cathedral organist, Stumbling Deer and Kara Hawkins will present music in the Native American tradition. The Muslim Call to Prayer -- the Adhan -- will be intoned by Bilal Muhammed. "America the Beautiful" will be led by Brian Steele with the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Children's Choir and voices of children from the Islamic School; Devra Learner, director; Mynra Braverman, piano; David Adelman and Alan Edelman, percussion. The children will also perform special music during the hour. Raja Govindarajan will sing "Sarva Dharma," a Hindu devotional piece, with harmonium.
    Daniel J Velicer will perform "Peace Piece,"which opens with a content lower voice moving with simple and repeated harmonic steps. An upper voice enters singing sweetly, but gradually ascends into complex and often extreme dissonance, contrasting the still timeless lower voice. After much proclamation, the dissonance fades into a sense of comfort and affirmation which, though reminiscent of the opening, fully reflects upon the events of the whole course. To some ears, some of the musical modes employed have an Asian flavor. The hearing of this progession may serve as a reminder that though we may return to familiar daily rhythms after a jarring or tragic event, we are changed. Peace Piece is one of the many contemplative works by the influential jazz pianist Bill Evans.

Missouri Governor Bob Holden and Kansas Insurance Comissioner Kathleen Sibelius will be present.The observance includes a choir of Jewish and Muslim children. [Observance details below.]
    At 7:30 pm, a dozen  workshops will be offered for those wishing to explore various topics -- from "Learning about Islam" to "Comforting Communities in Crisis." A brief ceremony from 8:30-8:45 pm will conclude the day. [workshop list below.]
    Artists from three area arts organizations are contributing their talents to the central 9/11 evening observances.
    For the morning gathering, at 6:40 am, from the Kansas City Symphony, Gary Schutza (trumpet), Brian Rood (trumpet), Stephen Multer (horn), Porter Wyatt Henderson (trombone), Steven Seward (tuba), and Timothy Jepson (percussion) will perform various selections for brass ensemble with percussion. Among the offerings are an excerpt from the New World Symphony, Shall We Gather, Amazing Grace, and Simple Gifts.
     Brian Steele, baritone, has sung with the Lyric Opera for 28 seasons with over 50 roles in over 75 productions. He will lead the assembly in song at the 6:30 observance in the Cathedral sanctuary.
     Daniel J Velicer, who plays piano with the Kansas City Symphony, will perform his own arrangement of “Peace, Piece” by Bill Evans.
     A special arts offering follows, at 7:30, in the Cathedral Founders Hall.
     From the Kansas City Symphony, Tony DeMarco, Tamamo Someya, Jessica Nance, and Mark Gibbs will perform various selections for string quartet. The program includes An Irish Melody: The Londonderry Air  (Frank Bridge), String Quartet in F Major, Opus 18 Number 1:
Allegro con brio and Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato (Ludwig van Beethoven), Air for Strings (Norman Dello Joio), Adagio for Strings (Samuel Barber), Interludium in Modo Antico and (Alexander Glazunov). This performance is made possible through the Kansas City Symphony’s Community Connections Initiative which is funded in part by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Community Arts Fund.
      From the Kansas City Ballet, Lisa Thorn will be dancing “Kaddish” an intense dance of loss and mourning, choreographed by Anna Sokolow who was known for her steadfast commitment to the lonely and persecuted. This ballet, featuring a sole female dancer, is set to the haunting music of Ravel. The pianist is Bill Marsden and features the vocalist Debra Scroggins Sowerwine. The original performance was made possible in part by the generous support of Mary and John Hunkeler.
    Groups wishing to coordinate their activities with the Interfaith Council observances can add their program notices to the growing list on the www.cres.org/911 web site, which also offers a detailed schedule.

DETAILS

MORNING
Jonathan Monk and Dianna Kelly, hosts of the Star102 radio show, will broadcast live from Ilus Davis Park beginning at 5:30 am. They say, “We're proud and honored to join the Interfaith Council and the rest of Kansas City in paying tribute to the heroes of September 11th during 'A Day of Hope'. We're please to announce that many area schools have chosen to participate in the tribute. They've prepared patriotic songs, the pledge of allegiance and their own salutes for our live broadcast on STAR 102.”

Schools, organizations and special people planning to participate are listed below, in addition to the Interfaith Council and participating religious representatives:

Mayor Kay Barnes Kansas City, Missouri
Mayor Carol Marinovich Kansas City, Kansas
The Allegro Choir
The Pembroke School
Highlands Elementary
Winnetonka High School
Bonjour Elementary
Topping Elementary
Blue Valley Montessori
Oak Park Elementary
Oak Park High Band and Choir
The Salvation Army Band
Special Thanks to Former NYC Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, Members of the National Organization of Fire Fighters
Various Local Fire Fighters, Police departments and Emergency personnel (who will be highlighted in a special Heroes Song).

6:30 pm ORDER OF OBSERVANCE [additional details soon]
6:15  Organ Prelude -- John Schaefer, Cathedral canon musician
6:28 American Indian Prelude -- Kara Hawkins and Stumbling Deer
6:30 Adhan -- Bilal Muhammed [or Javid Talib]
6:31 Greetings -- the Rt Reverend Barry R Howe, Bishop
6:33 America the Beautiful -- led by Brian Steele with the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Children's Choir; Devra Learner, director; Mynra Braverman, piano; David Adelman and Alan Edelman, percussion
6:36 Remarks -- Bill Tammeus, columnist, The Kansas City Star.
6:38 Ani Mavtiach Lach -- Children's Choir
6:40 Honoring Government, Police, Fire, EMS, and others -- Brian Steele
6:42 Organ Flourish -- John Schaefer
6:45 Remarks -- the Honorable Kay Barnes, mayor of Kansas City, MO
6:49 Sarva Dharma -- Raja Govindarajan
6:52 Time with our Neighbors (2 minutes each in pairs)
        Looking back over the year, where have you seen signs of compassion, peace, and hope? Where have you been disappointed? How can we honor those we remember today with the promise of renewal?
6:56 Bell struck
6:57 “Peace, Piece” by Bill Evans, Daniel J Velicer, piano
7:01 Remarks on behalf of Interfaith Council-- The Reverend Vern Barnet, DMn
7:05 Water videotape
7:08 Water ritual and words from IFC and assembly
7:16 Od Yavo -- Children's Choir (Jewish and Muslim) and assembly
         Text for the assembly to join in singing
7:19 Sending Forth

7:30 WORKSHOPS (additional information available shortly)
A. Learning about Islam
B. Learning about Sikhism
C. "A Jewish-Muslim Friendship-How to build bridges of understanding" Sheila
Sonnenschein and Mahnaz Shabbir
D. Making a Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala — The Ven. Gyaltsen Wangchuk, Rime Buddhist Center and Monastery
E. Comforting Communities in Crisis — Nancy E Crump, Certified Grief Counselor, and Fr Jerry L Spencer, KUMC Chaplain/Pastor, Holy Name Church — Green Door Room off Haden Hall
F. Applying the Diversity Task Force Report within the metro area —   Rodger Kube, Research Director for the Task Force
G. MOSAIC, a open interfaith projects group sponsoring the Interfaith Passport, Book Club, and the Life Stories Project— Kathy Riegelman
H. American Indian Spirituality
I.  “Congregations Partnering Across Religious and Racial Lines” — Janet Moss & Regina Stillman of Kansas City Harmony
J. "Non Violence and Reconciliation"  — Sister Donna Ryan (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) and Ira Harritt (American Friends Service Committee)
K. NCCJ / youth workshop
L. Christian Science Workshop

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ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY INTERFAITH COUNCIL -- Pls see this link for listing of members and purposes: http://www.cres.org/ifc/ifc.htm