Religious leaders ask for prayers for peace, troops

Carson City religious leaders are asking residents to pray for peace and the troops fighting in Iraq.

The Rev. Pat Propster, of Carson City Christian Fellowship, Calvary Chapel, said Thursday everyone should continue to pray for the active military and hope for a quick and victorious outcome to the War with Iraq.

"What our country does best at these times is unite," Propster said. "We need to unite now to support our men and women -- who we love so much -- who are fighting for us."

"I think in the understanding that God is sovereign and in control, ours is to pray for the knowledge of how to pray," the Rev, Bruce Kochsmeier said.

"When we are praying with an openness to know God's will and therefore respond in the spirit of God, we will be living the life we are called to live as Christians."

Kochsmeier said the Family Life Center at the church was opened at 7 p.m. Thursday for prayer.

"We will have the Family Life Center open throughout the day for those who want to come in for prayer. People from the community are encouraged to seek out our staff for counsel and prayer. We want to stand with the people at this time, and bring assurance God is here."

The Family Life Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The church is at the corner of Division and Mountain streets.

A special Mass for prayer will be at 12:15 p.m. today at St. Teresa's, 3000 N. Lompa Lane. The Rev. Jerry Hanley felt it was necessary at this time for people to gather and pray.

"A pastor's heart is always with their people, but perhaps never so much as during times of uncertainty and fear," Hanley said.

"With the law of Christ to be peacemakers and the greatest of the commandments to 'Love first the Lord your God with your whole heart and soul and mind,' and the second like the first, 'To love your neighbor as yourself,' we find ourselves stunned and saddened about the outbreak of war.

"We worry about our own troops and for the innocents in the combat area. We worry about our land and our people and our world as we look into the future filled with mass destruction and broken people.

"We guide each other at this time by falling into the the arms of God and placing ourselves first with Him and His great love for us and all of humanity. We fall to our knees and pray beyond ourselves for peace and for a quick finish to this war and for protection for all involved.

"We reach out to families of service people who are in this war so they will not be in need.