Community joins in prayer to remember those lost

By Megan Finnerty
Features Editor

Amber Loehmer cries each time she turns on the news to watch the coverage of the carnage following Tuesday's attacks.

"It's just so shocking," said the senior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences.

Loehmer said she thinks the president's decision to make today a national day of prayer and remembrance might help with some of that hurt and shock.

"You can't get through a crisis like this without knowing that your loved ones have gone to a better place and prayer can do that," she said. "It gives you hope."

Many in the area's religious community echoed Loehmer's words and plan to observe the national day of prayer and remembrance in their own synagogues, churches and mosques.

Marcus Katterman, an assistant campus minister at the University Church, an interdenominational Christian church, said that people know the power of prayer is real, whether they go to religious services or not.

"When something happens like this — a national tragedy — people feel called to do their part, whether that's donating blood or money to the Red Cross or praying as often as they can as much as they can," he said.

Katterman said group prayer is encouraged in many religions and likened it to a group of 10 candles. The more people praying together, the more powerful the prayer, he said.

"The candles burn brighter in a bunch than they would if they were separated."

Yosef Hafiz, the resident advisor for the Great Lafayette Islamic Center, said its members will be praying today as usual, but with special intentions for those injured and killed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"These are acts that are against our religion," said the senior in the Schools of Engineering. "We always pray five times a day and now we've been praying for the victims each time ever since it happened."

Maria Wainer, the director for the Hillel Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, said today there will be reflections on the tragedy at 6 p.m. at the center. There will also be special prayers said during Friday's usual services because, as she said, coming together as a community comforts people, especially if they are far from their loved ones.

Father Gregory Allard, a priest at St. Alexis Orthodox Church, said that at times like these all religions should come together and offer their prayers.

"It's a time of separating out that kind of blind hatred that led to this and a time to pray for guidance and patience," he said.

His church, like many others in the area and across the country, held a special prayer service Tuesday that was widely attended. He said he was impressed by the community's outpouring of sympathy and empathy for the victims and their families.

"I think it's important that we first remember to ask forgiveness for all we have done, and then ask God to help us forgive those who have visited this upon us."

Shawn Zambrows, the pastor at the Baptist Student Foundation said the way the nation comes together today is important because many in the U.S. are religious and want to turn to God to gain a sense of peace beyond themselves.

"There seems to be a need for us to go to God at a time like this, no matter what your religion," she said. "Especially at a time like this, when there is this sorrow and helplessness, we feel like we need to go to God with it. To be able to come to God and give him our sorrow, doubt and anger and to come away with some understanding or peace, that's what prayer does for us."

• West Lafayette mayor Sonya Margerum and Lafayette mayor Dave Heath will meet with the Tippecanoe County Ministerial Association at noon today on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge conducting a service called "Bridging Communities for Remembrance."

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Features editor:
Megan Finnerty

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