HOUSES of worship around the United States focused on the Sept. 11 anniversary over the weekend in accord with U.S. President Bush’s formal call for “National Days of Prayer and Remembrance.” The president’s official proclamation asked all Americans to gather in their places of worship and communities from Friday through Sunday to honor the dead, “give thanks for God’s enduring blessings on our land,” and pray for world peace and the strength to bring the attackers to justice. The president set the three days to fit the worship rhythms of the three major faiths. The Muslim holy day was Friday, the Jewish Sabbath day ran through sundown Saturday and Christians worship on Sunday. For Jews, the Sabbath this week coincided with the start of Rosh Hashana — the Jewish New Year — and many rabbis recited special prayers for the attacks’ victims, the United States and Israel. At least 96 mosques planned special events from the weekend through a “Day of Unity and Prayer” on the Sept. 11 anniversary to mourn victims and counteract efforts to divide American religious groups. One participant, the Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles, was showing a new quilt Saturday that volunteers inscribed with victims’ names. It will be sent for display at New York’s Ground Zero. The Southern Baptist Convention has designated the services as “United Sunday.” Worship suggestions for the 41,500 Southern Baptist congregations include national hymns (America the Beautiful), a new patriotic choral anthem (United Through It All), recognition of police and emergency workers and uplifting sermon themes. Dialogue was also being promoted by the National Council of Churches, which suggested that member congregations mark the anniversary week by sharing events with Muslim neighbors. The National Council’s general secretary, Robert Edgar, who will confer in Washington later this week with fellow church leaders who oppose U.S. action against Iraq, believes “citizens of this great superpower” should include penitence in the week’s services, as well as remembrance and hope. “Maybe it’s time, after a year, to ask what are the systemic causes of racism and terrorism and poverty,” Edgar said. (SD-Agencies)