Locals come together for prayer ...

The response was nearly immediate, the impulse as noble as it is quintessentially American: Within a few hours of the deadly terrorist attacks that occurred shortly before 9 a.m. Sept. 11, Americans were gathering at houses of worship for prayer and meditation, consolation and reflection.

Throughout Missouri, and the greater Cape Girardeau area, it was the same. The first known local church service convened at noon at Lynwood Baptist Chuch in Cape, barely three hours after the attack. By evening, the Old St. Vincent's Church on the riverfront was filling up as bells chimed for a 7 p.m. prayer service. Eight ministers representing the Downtown Council of Churches read aloud from the Bible and prayed at the ecumenical service, attended by about 150 people on short notice.

There was much more of this on Friday, the day President Bush had designated as a national day of prayer and remembrance. The nation's capital was home to a moving service at which the president spoke along with the Rev. Billy Graham, after which the congregation sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Locally, as across America, worship leaders gathered with parishioners to beseech God for strength and understanding. Congregations, many dressed in patriotic garb, sang old favorites such as "America the Beautiful." Notably, those beseeching God's blessing and guidance included adherents of Islam, one of the three great religions of Abraham. Cape Girardeau's small but vibrant Muslim community gathered at the Islamic Center for worship and recitation from the Koran. Noting that the word Islam stands for peace, local Islamic leaders deplored the terrorist attacks, condemning them without reservation.

Many churches remained open this past week for those wishing to pray, meditate, read the Bible or be comforted and comforting others. Thursday evening, a large crowd gathered at the Show Me Center for more prayer and remembrance. Special recognition goes to KFVS-12 and to the stations of the Zimmer Radio Network for broadcasting the service to the tri-state area.

In all, amid the death and destruction, as the war tocsin sounds yet again, these signs of spiritual health and renewal signify a remarkable strength and vitality. We will need all these we can summon in the long days and nights ahead, as the civilized world prepares its righteous response to terrorists who would destroy our way of life.