Watch the 9/11 Concerts Again

September 9, 2011 was an unusual day in many respects. No less than six choirs, from Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Boston, and New York, performed throughout the day, alternating hourly at St. Paul's Chapel and Trinity Church from 11am - 6pm.  The culmination of this day of music was the 8:30pm concert with performers from all six choirs and an orchestra, as well.

The concerts were not just experienced by visitors to Trinity and St. Paul's that day. The live webcasts at Trinity -- which included all the concerts held there that day -- were viewed 11,000 times in that one day.

The concerts are also archived on this website to be watched on-demand, anytime. You'll find the 8:30pm concert video above. Links to the other webcasts held at Trinity that day are below.

The Washington Chorus (11am concert)

Holy Eucharist (music by the Trinity Choir)

The Washington Chorus (1pm concert)

The Copley Singers

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem

Concert Prelude: Melanie DeMore

Remember to Love: Let Us Love One Another With a Sincere Heart

You can also read what the New York Times thought about that day of music and the daily Bach at One services at St. Paul's Chapel here.

Photos and Video from September 11, 2011
An early morning service at St. Paul's Chapel with the Presiding Bishop and the Bishop of New York. Ringing the Bell of Hope in the churchyard just following the singing of the Star Spangled Banner at Ground Zero. A poignant sermon at Trinity Church. The unveiling of the big, bright, colorful community flag project at Charlotte's Place. Back to St. Paul's for another ringing of the bell, this time as the sun went down and with several of Trinity's interfaith partners. And, finally, Compline to end the day inside the chapel.


See more photos here.

Watch the video diary for today here:

Presiding Bishop Preaches at St. Paul's Chapel

Even at 7:30am this morning, Lower Manhattan was full of people, as was St. Paul's Chapel. Several hundred people came to the chapel for a service with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who preached, and Bishop Mark Sisk of New York, who celebrated the Eucharist.

Read the full text of Bishop Jefferts Schori's sermon here.

Following the service, the congregation and members of the press moved outside to the churchyard, where the Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper, Rector, Bishop Jefferts Schori, and Bishop Sisk rang the Bell of Hope at 8:46am, in memory of those who died on September 11.

You can read more about the service in this article for Episcopal News Service. 

And watch the Presiding Bishop's sermon, filmed by the Episcopal Church Center Communications Office here.

Check back here later today for photos from the service and the ringing of the Bell of Hope.

Daily News Op-Ed by Dr. Cooper: Evil is Real, But Love Still Rules the Day

Today, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper, Rector of Trinity Wall Street, shares an op-ed piece in the New York Daily News. 

Part of the piece reads:

Within hours of the terrorist attacks in New York City, courageous first responders, recovery workers and volunteers at Ground Zero began to create a world of good. We honor all who with their actions declared that the evil of that day would not have the final word. We also remember those who, when faced with death, called family and friends to whisper the words that bind us and make the world good: I love you, I will always love you. They inspire us to stop and remember to love.

Read the Dr. Cooper's full op-ed here.

You can also watch Dr. Cooper's sermon from today's 11:15am service at Trinity Church here:

A Service and a Barbecue of Remembrance and Reunions
Today, St. Paul's Chapel welcomed the 9/11 first responders, recovery workers, and volunteer community for an afternoon together, first with a Service of Remembrance and then with a barbecue in the churchyard.

And what an afternoon it was. Full of reunions, and big hugs, lots of tears and just as much laughter, music and worship -- and really, really good food.

Read more about it here.

See photos from the Service of Remembrance, the Barbecue, and more here.

And watch today's Video Diary below:


The Service of Remembrance will take place again tomorrow -- Sunday, September 11, 2011 -- at 2:30pm at St. Paul's Chapel. All are welcome.

20,000 Ribbons Tied at St. Paul's Chapel -- So Far


Twenty-thousand.

That's how many ribbons visitors to St. Paul's Chapel have tied on the fences, the bell of hope, trees, and railings since Tuesday, September 6. Twenty-thousand prayers and memorials shared with and for the world, in many different languages.

"This church is special," said one visitor. "It stands for what is best in New York City. If only we could remember this."

The ribbon-tying is being temporarily stopped for today. Trinity has only 10,000 ribbons left and anticipates they will all be needed tomorrow, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Ribbons will be available again beginning at 8am tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, for today (or if you will not be at St. Paul's this weekend) tie a virtual ribbon here. 

And see more photos from St. Paul's and Trinity Church on the 9/11/11 photo gallery.

Remember to Love: A Magnificent Concert

Yesterday's concerts from choirs from New York, Boston, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., culminated in a final concert with all six choirs, as well as soloists from the Metropolitan Opera. You can watch the concert on-demand here:

You can also read a review by the New York Times of the Trinity Youth Chorus singing the Trinity Requiem and of the Chiara String Quartet concert here.

The Rector in the New York Times

There's a great story on the New York Times website about Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel. The story includes an interview with Dr. Cooper on his experience volunteering at St. Paul's, following 9/11, when he was rector of Christ Church in Ponte Vedra, Florida, and what he'll be preaching about this Sunday, 10 years later.

Read it here.

Getting Around Lower Manhattan This Weekend

One last post for the evening, folks. There are street closures, changes in traffic routes, and some changes in public transportation in Lower Manhattan, beginning tomorrow morning.

Read all about it here and check the city websites listed in the article for any updates.

And if you can't join us in person at Trinity Wall Street this weekend, remember that a number of our services and events will be webcast.

Video Diary: A Day Full of Music