Reflections and condolences were expressed during the weekend as masses of people visited places of worship in the area and across the country.

Michelle Martin said she made sure she was out of work in time to join friends for evening prayer Sunday at East Lansing’s All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbott Road.

“I was really trying to make it today,” said Martin, a nursing senior. “I especially wanted to come, pray and be with everyone.”

Martin said the evening’s discussion would center on Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington.

“Just being with others, praying and talking with the reverend will help us support each other,” she said. “My hearts go out to the families and the firefighters who are working day and night going through the rubble.”

Randy Israel, business vice president of Shaarey Zedek Congregation, 1924 Coolidge Road, said more people than usual were at Friday’s services as many people were trying to cope with the week’s events.

He said the high attendance was also partly caused by this week’s celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.

“In our Friday night Sabbath service, the sermon concentrated on the events that happened this past week and the impact of our community and the community as a whole,” he said.

And Shaarey Zedek’s Rabbi Morton Hoffman is open to talk with anyone from the community, Israel said.

“Many people in our community have been touched by the problems occurring in Israel, where this may be a common occurrence, but it has never happened here in America,” he said.

Israel said the congregation is concerned about harassment toward Muslims and people of Arab decent.

“Everyone is concerned for the Muslim community,” he said. “We should not condemn their community for what a few radical terrorists did. That is religious persecution.”

A spokesperson for the Muslim Students’ Association, who didn’t want to be identified, said Muslims on campus are praying privately for victims and actively getting involved with blood drives. They are also setting up a discussion forum to dispel misconceptions about the Islamic faith and those who follow it.

Shrikumar Poddar, co-founder of The Bharatiya Temple of Lansing, 955 Haslett Road, said about 35 people in his community also came together Sunday to cope with the weeks events.

“We prayed for peace on earth and for the peace of the souls of those in the New York tragedy and a speedy recovery of the injured,” he said. “Every community suffers, and prayer services like these are our only source of consolment.”