National day of prayer observed

MAT-SU -- In churches around the country -- and around the Valley -- Friday was observed as a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of last Tuesday's terrorist attack on America.

Many people stayed home and watched the moving televised ceremony at Washington National Cathedral. Many denominations took part in the ceremony, as they did in ceremonies across the country Friday.

At Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., President George W. Bush addressed the entire nation, and prayed with the rest of the country.

His message was straightforward -- the nation mourns, but it will not stand passively by at the hands of terrorists.

"Our responsibility to history is already clear -- to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil," Bush said. He asked God to "watch over our nation and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come."

Later in his address, Bush said, "this conflict was begun on the timing of others; it will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing."

Around the Valley, churches filled with people praying for the victims, and for the country. Throughout the country, a strong sense of community has come forward in the days following the attack. Here in the Valley, flags are being displayed and people are volunteering to help in any way they can. Friday, that meant taking a moment to pray and remember.

At Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla, the morning Mass was attended by more than twice the normal amount of people, and people trickled in around noon for silent prayer. A funeral was taking place there Friday, but people showed up for private, silent prayers.

The borough gym was the scene of a large gathering of people at noon Friday, as Crossroads Community Church provided the prayer service for borough employees and the public.

In Talkeetna, prayer services took place Wednesday, the day after the attack. Members of the community's churches went to Village Park for a formal, nondenominational service.

"We had more than 100 people, from all the different churches, who came to pray for our country and for the families," said Mildred Sutton, whose husband is the pastor at Talkeetna Assembly of God. "We gathered there and sang 'America the Beautiful,' recited the Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance and we had someone recite Psalm 23."

Wednesday was also the day when Valley Church of Christ held an impromptu service.

"It was very emotional, but very comforting," said Robert Kuenning. "It was very nice because people stopped by spontaneously. About a dozen people led us in prayer. We didn't add to our usual services today [Friday] but people have been stopping in to pray."

At other churches, noon seemed to be the perfect time to observe the national day of prayer. On their lunch hours, people started filing into churches to pray.