Lighting Ground Zero’s Tree of Hope

Ground Zero's Tree of Hope is lowered by crane to its new home at St. Paul's Chapel

At 4 pm on Saturday, November 29, St. Paul’s Chapel will mark Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season at Ground Zero with the inaugural lighting of a “Tree of Hope” in its churchyard across the street from the World Trade Center site.

The tree is a 21-foot Norway spruce planted in the northwest corner of the chapel’s churchyard. It replaces a sycamore tree destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001 by debris from the collapsing WTC towers.

Proceedings begin with a prayer service in the chapel, featuring music from the Trinity Brass Quintet and the Trinity Choir. The congregation will then process through the churchyard for a ceremonial lighting of the tree and closing prayers.

Throughout the holidays, children will be invited to visit St. Paul’s to create ornaments of peace to hang on the Tree of Hope; materials for the ornaments will be available inside the chapel from November 29 through December 31.

News Story: Seasonal Events at St. Paul's Chapel

Posted on Trinity News November 26, 2003