[3/20/03]About 60 people prayed Wednesday night at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, as the nation prepared to go to war with Iraq.

“Tonight we gather with a certain amount of anxiety as our nation, we believe, prepares to invade Iraq,” said the Rev. Michael Nation, rector of Holy Trinity.

About three hours later, the first bombs landed around Baghdad

The church is having daily prayer services at the Chapel of St. Mary and Martha of Bethany between the church and the former Vicksburg Post building to pray for a swift end to the war. Services will be at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The chapel will also be open daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for anyone who wants to pray.

Nation called on Christians everywhere to pray for the men and women of the armed services, the president and for the people of Iraq.

“Love your enemies,’ Jesus tells us, and pray for your enemies,'” Nation said.

Holy Trinity is one of four downtown churches lighting their chapels and sanctuaries as a reminder of the innocent who could suffer as a result of the war.

Crawford Street United Methodist Church on Cherry at Crawford Street; First Presbyterian Church on Cherry at South; and First Baptist Church on Cherry at Harrison, will join Holy Trinity in lighting the chapels in a show of unity.