Keeping the faith

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Robin Gowers doesn’t go to church on Sundays or believe

in organized religion. But the first thing she did when she heard about

the devastating terrorist attack on the nation Tuesday was pray.

She prayed for the victims. She prayed for the rescue workers. She

prayed for the families of both.

Although she said she doesn’t need anybody to tell her where to go

every Sunday, she believes in God and the power of prayer.

“My belief is that everybody -- regardless of their religion or

beliefs -- holds a certain amount of energy. And if you can get all of

that energy together, it creates a power that brings about a positive

change,” Gowers said.

Gowers and about 35 of her neighbors met Tuesday night on a front lawn

in the 900 block of Joann Street to call upon God to watch over the

nation in this time of grief.

Pastor Tim McCalmont, of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, was

just one of the many church leaders who held a special vigil to

memorialize the horrific event and try to bring some comfort to the

members of his congregation.

“We’re a family. When something happens in your family, you want to be

together. It is time for our family to come together and pray and grieve

and seek the Lord,” McCalmont said.

For area Catholic churches, Mass is already a daily routine. But on

Tuesday, church leaders focused services on the aftermath of the

terrorist attacks.

Father Joe Robillard of St. Joachim Catholic Church said many people

dropped in before work to say a prayer for the victims and their

families.

Rabbi Marc Rubenstein of Temple Isaiah said he had already been

contacted by a handful of people who believe they had lost a loved one.

There isn’t anybody who has not been touched by the tragedy, he said.

Rubenstein said he is there to listen and provide an outlet for people’s

anger and frustration.

“People are afraid to go outside. They are afraid this could happen

anywhere,” he said. “The only thing we have to combat fear is love and

faith. And that is the role of the clergy at this time.”

Although Temple Isaiah did not hold a special service Tuesday, its

doors were open late and a candle burned to memorialize the victims of

the tragedy. A therapist also visited the temple to provide services to

those who wanted help coping, Rubenstein said.

Many religious leaders affirmed the role of the clergy is also to help

children cope with the images they are sure to be flooded with. It is

hard enough for adults to come to terms with such a horrific event, but

children are even more affected, McCalmont said.

Rubenstein agreed.

“Tonight, we hug our children a little tighter, and kiss our

sweethearts a little more, and thank God we are alive,” Rubenstein said.