13 years.... minus 2 days

2 days...

Sunday, September 9th, 2001. Many Americans did a very American thing that morning. They got up early, had breakfast, put on their Sunday best and went to church. If they were lucky enough to get the kids ready in time, they made Sunday School. Some of them probably ducked in late as the first hymn was playing, and sat in the back, hoping no one noticed. The congregation at St. Paul's Chapel in NYC, tucked between Fulton and Vesey Streets, sat in their pews that morning with no premonition of what would happen in just two days. September 11, 2001 would bring devastation to their very door.

St. Paul's Chapel is the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan, it's been in the business of saving souls and redeeming spirits since 1766. Only ten years later, the cozy building would survive the Great New York City Fire, while the more famous Trinity Church with its magnificent gallery and a quarter of the city burned to the ground.  The bloody Brits torched the city after the Battle of Long Island without discrimination.

The congregation in the early days included George Washington, our first President. He prayed there before his inauguration in 1789. He continued to worship at St. Paul's for his years in the NYC capital city. The church wouldn't host anyone so famous in 2001, but would become an important part of the 9-11 events.

The rear entrance of St. Paul's opens onto Church Street, opposite the east side of the World Trade Center site. During the days after the towers were hit, the church found itself with a new purpose. To serve the rescue workers, providing a place of prayer and rest during their long hours. The church became a food distribution center. A makeshift bunkhouse. Volunteers served meals to the rescuers during the 12-hour shifts.

As the months passed, the church became a place for reflection. Family members and the locals brought memorials to the church. They found teddy bears, photographs, and flowers. It became such a center for memorial items they built panels inside to house the items. They now have 400.

Many of the memorials remain in place today. As worshippers enter the sanctuary, they view items brought by strangers in a time of healing. Books, letters, preserved flowers that remind them of that day. A special memorial entitled "Healing Hearts and Minds" displays firefighter and police patches sent in from all over the world. To a little church in Manhattan that stood, while giant towers fell yards away.

People believe an ancient sycamore tree blocked most of the debris from reaching the church. The tree was felled by the massive forces that day, but in such a way as to seem to wrap its arms around the blast. Not even a broken window.

Some faithful see the protection of the tree as a sign that God protected the church that day. Others see biblical signs coming to fruition. Isaiah 9:10 says "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." The sixth sign. You can judge for yourself.

2 days...