"Mennonite Disaster Service, which responds to disasters in the United States and Canada, is organizing a response to the tragedies. MDS is currently urging people to donate blood through the Red Cross.

In Canada, where many international flights were forced to stop on their way to the United States, MDS has offered to cooperate in providing lodging and assistance to stranded travelers.

Statement:
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) expresses great horror and sadness for events in New York and Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Sept. 11. MCC asks all people to pray for the victims and the families of those killed or injured.

These senseless tragedies can lead a nation and its leaders to react out of frustration and anger, and to make decisions and actions while in a state of trauma. We encourage our leaders to make decisions with reflection and deliberation, and encourage all people to resist the upward spiraling of more violence. We call on our leaders to exercise restraint in their response.

We must remind ourselves that not only did Christian brothers and sisters suffer and die in these tragedies, but other Christians may from a violent response to this disaster.

We call Christians to remain prayerful and take positive steps toward healing the nation.

We encourage churches to reach out to those within their communities who might become the object of hasty, fearful, and scapegoating anger, and if needed to offer support and protection.

We encourage church members to donate blood through their local Red Cross or other local blood donation banks in their area as there is a shortage of blood for those wounded.

We must remind ourselves that Christ calls us to seek forgiveness and that only through reconciliation will peace with justice be found."

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