Nearly 20 churches in Port Angeles will come together Saturday evening to honor and pray for the victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
The ecumenical event will be held at Port Angeles City Pier from 6 p.m to 7 p.m., and will be followed by a concert.
“There is a heaviness and sadness on the part of most people,” said Gary Smith, executive pastor of the Independent Bible Church.
The Port Angeles church is one of the organizers of the ceremony.
“People are running the range of emotions from sadness to shock.
“It’s a time to come together and pray as a community,” he said, “and honor those who have died, some who sacrificed their lives to save others.”
A gospel bluegrass concert, which already had been scheduled, will take place after the service, Smith said.
Saturday’s service is in response to President Bush’s declaration for a national prayer remembrance to honor the thousands of victims of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside Washington.
Today (Friday), bells will ring and sirens will sound at lunchtime on the president’s National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
Many events that had been scheduled for this weekend throughout the nation have been postponed or canceled, replaced with prayer services and other appropriate events.
Jefferson courthouse rites
In Port Townsend today (Friday), a service will be held at the Jefferson County Courthouse at noon in response to President Bush’s declaration.
A short ecumenical service will be followed by the sounding of emergency sirens by Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, a minute of silence, and the tolling of courthouse bells in honor of the fallen.
Pastor Howard Fosser, head of the Jefferson County Ministerial Association, said that 15 congregatons have been called on to attend the event.
“I called almost every church,” he said, “asking everyone to come.”
A prayer service in Sequim today (Friday) will also honor the victims. The service, involving several local churches, will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the Sequim High School stadium.
In Quilcene, the First Presbyterian Church, 294433 Highway 101, will hold a prayer service at noon today (Friday), Pastor Becky Anderson said.
Following the service, there will be a “patriotic time together” gathering at the multipurpose room in Quilcene School on U.S. Highway 101, Anderson said.
Tribal gatherings
At least two Olympic Peninsula tribes will hold religious services today (Friday).
Members of the Quileute tribe will gather outside the tribal office, 90 Main St., LaPush, for a prayer service and a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m.
Five churches in Neah Bay will come together at the Makah Senior Center on Bayview Avenue for a prayer and scripture reading to begin at noon, said Pastor Dale Heinlein, head of the Neah Bay ministerial alliance.
In Port Ludlow, the Port Ludlow Community Church, 9534 Oak Bay Road, will have a “special time of prayer” from noon to 1 p.m. today (Friday).
On Monday, the Puget Sound Blood Bank will hold a blood drive at the Port Ludlow church from noon to 6 p.m.
While many of the more than 100 churches on the Olympic Peninsula held memorial services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, many are conducting services and other acts of remembrance today (Friday).
Port Angeles, Sequim
The First Presbyterian Church, 139 W. Eighth St. in Port Angeles, will hold a candlelight vigil tonight from 7:30 to 8:15 and a service earlier in the day from noon to 1 p.m.
Several churches will remain open for prayer all day today (Friday) in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend.
The Lighthouse Christian Center-Assembly of God Church, 304 Viewcrest Ave., Port Angeles, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for prayer.
The Independent Bible Church, 112 N. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, will open for prayer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple St., Sequim will be open for silent prayer from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Early morning and noon services will also be held at several churches on the Olympic Peninsula.
Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church, 1007 S. Oak St., Port Angeles, will hold a regularly scheduled Mass at 8:40 a.m.
The Believers Resource Center, 113 Valley St., Port Angeles, will hold a service at noon, as will St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, 1335 Blaine St., Port Townsend.
First Presbyterian Church, 139 W. Eighth St., Port Angeles, will hold a service from noon to 1 p.m., in addition to its candlelight vigil.
