Cranbury residents mourn together

The events of last Tuesday have caused many people to embrace religion as a means of coping with tragedy.

By: Casha Caponegro
   When facing a crisis, many people turn to church and the power of prayer to give them comfort and hope.
   The events of last Tuesday, when four planes were hijacked, with two crashing into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and another in rural Pennsylvania, has caused many people to embrace religion as a means of coping with the tragedy.
   President George W. Bush declared Sept. 14 a day of National Prayer. He urged Americans to attended noon prayer services, which were held throughout the country.
   The First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury held a community prayer service at noon on Friday.
   Numerous people braved the gloomy, rainy weather, to gather soaking wet in the pews of the church.
   There were few children attending the service, as school was still in session. But the young preschool age children that did attend filled the room with innocent energy, providing a contrast to the somber, prevailing mood.
   Associate Pastor Paulette Mixon led the congregates in the "Litany of the Beatitudes," which is normally read during Lent, but appropriate in light of the week’s events, she said.
   "God our Father: we are discouraged by evil and frightened by dying, and have no word of hope within ourselves," she read. "Unless you speak to us, O God, we shall be overcome by grieving and despair."
   The Rev. Louis Mitchell encouraged prayer participation in the attendants, leading them in moments of silent prayer for each group affected by the tragedy, including those who perished in the attacks, their families and the recovery workers risking their lives to rescue those that might be trapped in the rubble.
   The service ended with a moving rendition of "God Bless America," which left many weeping on their way out.
   "I received from this hope, unity — the knowledge that we are not alone and that there is a God, a greater power that is in control," said Donna Zimet, who was unable to contain the tears running down her face as she left.
   Although most of those who attended Friday’s service were members of the Presbyterian Church, there were some attendees who belonged to other churches.
   In addition, there were some who chose to pray at the Presbyterian Church who were not even Christian.
   "Ironically I am Jewish," said Michael Silverman, who was also at the service. "I wanted to come to a place where I can pray and this is a house of God. I needed this and the country needed this. This is a horrible tragedy. Anyone who believes in a higher being is praying today."