FERRIDAY, La. &045; Few churches in the area announced plans for special Sept. 11 memorial services, but at Lake St. John Community Baptist Church there was never any doubt the day would get special note.

The Rev. Karl Wilson, pastor at the church, said the congregation was as anxious this year as last to remember those who died in terrorist attacks in New York City, rural Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.

&uot;We wanted to come together to pray for our nation and our nation’s leaders,&uot; he said. &uot;I think this will always be an annual affair for us.&uot;

Three churches have joined to take part in the 7 p.m. service at Community Baptist, 4729 Highway 568.

Joining Wilson will be the Rev. Curtis Smith of Waterproof First Baptist Church and Mark Richardson of Lakeshore Baptist Church at Lake St. John. Congregations of those churches will attend, along with any others who would like to take part, Wilson said.

&uot;We have emphasized that everyone community-wide is invited,&uot; he said. &uot;We try to stress that anyone who wants to come and pray for our nation is welcome. It’s Patriotic Day on our calendars.&uot;

The Rev. John Scott of Christian Hope Baptist Church in Natchez and an active member of the Natchez Ministerial Alliance, said he knew of no churches in Natchez planning special services today.

However, many, as is the case in his church, will take the opportunity at regularly scheduled Wednesday services to remember Sept. 11.

&uot;We have a prayer service, a Bible study and then another prayer service,&uot; Scott said of the regular Wednesday meetings at Christian Hope.

&uot;We will be in prayer for the victims’ families and for peace,&uot; he said. &uot;And we will give a prayer of thanks that we’ve not had any similar activities in our country since 9-11.&uot;