Coming together, 10 years after

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator

TACOMA — Ten years after September 11, a lot has changed.

No more was that evident than at St. Mark's by The Narrows Lutheran Church on Sunday night, September 11, 2011.

Some 100 Muslims, Jews and Christians came together to put out the word that 10 years ago wasn't about religion, it was about terrorism.

"Violence has been perpetrated in the name of all religions and we stand against that," said the Rev. Jan Ruud. Ten years ago, he had just arrived to St. Mark's. In the minutes, hours and days after the bombings, he sought out and worshiped with Tacoma's Muslim leaders.

On hand Sunday night were Eldar Alishan and Suayip Nas, Muslims originally from Turkey now living south of Seattle and leaders of the Acacia Foundation. The nonprofit group, formed in 2002, has a mission to build the dialog of peace. To learn more, visit acaciafoundation.org.

The evening consisted of small-group studies and worship.

One member of St. Mark's said, "I think that's our call in life — to do what we can, we can't do it all, but we can do something."

Pictured above: Images from St. Mark's by The Narrows on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. The two men in the close-up are Eldar Alishan, left, a Muslim formerly of Russia when it was part of the former Soviet Union and now of Kent, and Vincent Crocco, member of St. Mark's. Alishan represents the Acacia Foundation, acaciafoundation.org, a nonprofit founded in 2002 south of Seattle for the purpose of increasing understanding between Muslims and Christians.