National Day

In response to President Bush's call for a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, First Christian Church, 1345 Potomac Ave., will have a 20-minute prayer service Friday at noon in the sanctuary. In his proclamation, Bush is encouraging all Americans to remember those who have suffered in the disaster by offering prayers, and giving their hearts and homes for those who now, more than ever, "need our compassion and our support. "

National Day of Prayer under attack To the editor: More than 50 years after it was made official by a joint resolution of Congress, the National Day of Prayer is being threatened by a national group of liberals. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit, saying the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional and creates a "hostile environment for nonbelievers. " The Alliance Defense Fund will defend the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

Drivers sought for Make-A-Wish convoy CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The fourth annual Franklin County Truck Convoy, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2006, at Cressler Trucking in Shippensburg, Pa. Local organizers are looking for drivers and/or sponsors for this event. Registration fee is $50 per truck, with every cent going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For more information or to obtain a registration form, please contact Rich Bell at 717-264-7518 or 717-264-1612, or visit www.franklincountytruckconvoy.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - It is not often that someone in the Hollywood community comes in for praise from the religious community, but that was the case for one actor and director Thursday during the National Day of Prayer observance in Chambersburg. "We thank you Lord, for men like Mel Gibson," said Ward Childerston, the manager of WCRH, a Christian radio station in Williamsport. Childerston noted that Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," and the impact it has had on the millions of people who have seen the film portraying the last hours of Jesus Christ's life on Earth.

By MARLO BARNHART / Staff Writer photo: KEVIN G. GILBERT / staff photographer Tom Ebner believes in prayer. That belief was strong enough to bring the Mount Airy, Md., man to the front of the Washington County Circuit Courthouse on Thursday for the National Day of Prayer. "I do believe in prayer ... and our country certainly needs it," Ebner said. He joined about three dozen others who came out to hear prayers dedicated to Kosovo and to Littleton, Colo.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - About three years ago, Ginger Peterson wanted to take her children to a National Day of Prayer event, but she found nothing that was "kid-friendly. " "I thought the next year I would do something for kids," she said. In the meantime, she moved from Lancaster, Pa., to Chambersburg and pulled a few friends together to establish an event to coincide with the National Day of Prayer. Peterson and other women who make up the Mother's Prompting Children to Pray Committee and the Christian Emphasis Committee of the Chambersburg YMCA held their third annual event Thursday.

Editor's note: Each week, The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on its Web site, www.herald-mail.com . Readers also may submit comments about the poll question when voting. Each Sunday, a sampling of edited reader comments will run in The Herald-Mail. Last week's poll question was: To what extent should Americans recognize or observe each year the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? "There should be programs at the attack sites and there should be personal reflection in addition to prominent mention in newspapers, magazines and TV 'news' programs.

Local Rotary offers funding opportunity Applications for capital improvement funding from the Hagerstown Rotary Foundation may be picked up at a club meeting or downloaded from www.hagerstownrotary.org. The club will not be mailing out forms to last year's recipients. Applications must be returned no later than April 17 to secretary Darrell Fowler. Don't delay as there are a number of other items that must accompany a request such as proof that the organization is a 501(c)