A time to pray

By ROBBY LUCKE
Staff

Alleghany County residents shared in the shock, outrage and sorrow experienced by the rest of the nation, and much of the world, following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. And as it was elsewhere, for many local residents, an essential part of the response was prayer.

Some local churches were open for prayer that same night.

About 120 people gathered for a prayer service the evening of Sept. 12 at First Baptist Church in Sparta. Organized by the Alleghany County Ministerial Association, the service was led by pastors James Pollard of First Baptist, the Rev. Susan Sides of Shiloh United Methodist Church, the Rev. Thom Burleson of Sparta Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Steven Ray of Sparta United Methodist Church.

Offering Prayer — Students at Alleghany High School gather around the flag pole in front of the building during a prayer vigil last Friday morning that began at 7:30 a.m. Students in all grades participated.

The service included readings from Psalm 37 and II Corinthians 1. There were times of prayer for those who died in the airplanes, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, those who were injured or still trapped, emergency workers, family and friends of victims, the government, the military and for world peace. They included spoken and silent prayers.

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