Interfaith Service Offers Prayers For Peace In War

July 12, 2003

FROM IDAHO 2 NEWS

By Scott Logan

BOISE, ID - On the first bloody Sunday of war, people of all faiths in the Treasure Valley gathered at St. John's Cathedral in Boise to pray and share their feelings.

"We're in war. And some people are OK with that, some are angry, and some are angry at the people who are angry about that," said the Rev. Jon Brown, a retired clergyman with the United Methodist community. "So it's really to broaden the concern and allow a broader and deeper conversation rather than pro and con, because we're all going to continue living with each other in this community."

"I feel a lot of pain, and I feel sadness," said Jerilynn Blum, who attended the Interfaith peace service.

One remembered his experience with war. "I saw a lot of my brothers die a horrible death for no good cause, it was very painful experience," said Chalazon Clark, who served with the United States Army in Vietnam.

"I don't know about all the people," said Bishop Michael Driscoll with the Catholic Diocese of Idaho. "But I support the troops, I'd say all of us are praying for their safety, a quick end to the war and that the people of Iraq have peace and justice."

They prayed in Hebrew and they prayed in Arabic. In a service embracing religions from Christianity to Hare Krishna, they prayed for the anxious, the disheartened and the terrified. They also prayed for the enraged and the vengeful.

Above all, they prayed for peace....and wondered when it would come.