Interfaith teens, adults will commemorate 9/11 with prayer service

In response to the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, the Children of Abraham Coalition — a suburban group of Muslim, Jewish and Christian teens and adult religious leaders — will lead an interfaith prayer service for peace.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 11 at North School Park, at Arlington Heights Road and Eastman Street in Arlington Heights. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside the St. Viator High School auditorium, 1213 E. Oakton St. in Arlington Heights.

Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder will welcome those who attend, while a village police and fire department honor guard will begin and end the service.

The Children of Abraham includes teens and adult religious leaders from Temple Chai in Long Grove, St. Viator High School, the Islamic Education Center in Glendale Heights, Masjid Al-Huda in Schaumburg and the Viatorian Community in Arlington Heights.

The Rev. Corey Brost, CSV, a member of the Clerics of Saint Viator, founded the organization last year. He says that the only way to respond to the hatred created by the terrorist attacks is for religions to work together.

“The great religious traditions in our world all agree on the need for working with other religions for peace,” Brost says. “This prayer service is a way to show that publicly, while standing up against the voices in our world that try to spread hatred or bigotry against a specific religion.”

The service will include clergy and teen leaders from the three Abrahamic traditions, as well as Scripture readings from each. A period of quiet reflection will invite those who attend to contemplate how they can be people of peace.