Churches all across Southeast Missouri had been praying for peace as the nation faced the possibility of war in recent months. Now that war is a reality, the community is asked to gather in prayerful support of the U.S. military.

The ministerial alliances of Cape Girardeau and Jackson -- organizations open to every church in their respective community -- are sponsoring a community prayer service at 5 p.m. Sunday at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park's Court of Honor.

The Court of Honor is a patriotic display near the Pasta House court at the mall set aside to honor the area's military personnel.

The service will include prayers for wisdom for national and world leaders and prayers of support for military personnel and their families. Several Scripture passages will be read. Trudy Lee will sing and Chris Nall will accompany. Both are from Cape Girardeau.

The service isn't going to be political or a protest. The focus is just prayer. "This is a protest for God and his saving grace," said the Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church.

"Peace is what the world is after," said the Rev. Sam Ramdial, pastor of First General Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau.

A peace candle will be lit during the service, and the names of military personnel will be read. Those attending the service are encouraged to submit a card with the name of a close friend or relative serving in active military duty.

After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, some people in the area lost friends and relatives. "But there are hundreds of people now serving," Smith said.

Smith's own son is serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in San Francisco, and had been deployed to Southeast Asia last year for a three-month assignment. Smith felt a growing burden to pray for the military and the families and friends they leave behind when they are called to duty.

It is from that burden -- and the growing lists in church bulletins and newsletters that give names and addresses of active-duty military personnel -- that this service was organized.

"Our prayers are focused on the families and people from our congregations who are over there on the battlefield," Ramdial said.

"We have members of our church who are in harm's way and we want to lift them up," said the Rev. Paul Kabo of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau. "We are asking for wisdom to guide us."

Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, the ministerial alliances have made special community calls to prayer -- in the weeks after the attacks, on the anniversary a year later and now in wartime.

"As spiritual leaders it's part of our spiritual calling" to gather people together for prayer, Ramdial said.

That is especially true in times of crisis. "Out of that burden we came up with some creative release, and I find myself hearing God's call in times of stress and burden, and we all wanted to do something for God's people, especially in difficult times," Smith said.

While the service can help relieve some stress and worry for the community, it also can add to the burden ministers face. They already have congregations and parishioners who demand their time.

"But if we aren't relevant now, we will never be relevant," Smith said.

The ecumenical service also helps people to see a number of pastors working together, and they will know who to go to when they have troubles of their own, Ramdial said. On average, 30 pastors attend the regular monthly meetings of the ministerial alliance in Cape Girardeau.

"It is spiritual underpinning that is the issue. We want to pray for the families and do whatever we need to do to help."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126