The two Bermudian victims of the World Trade Center attacks were remembered yesterday at a moving interfaith Thanksgiving Day Service.

Boyd Gatton and Rondelle Tankard were in the thoughts and prayers of the congregation who gathered at the Cathedral of St. Theresa in Hamilton.

The poignancy of the American holiday was greater following the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, which are believed to have killed more than 3,000 people and left people around the globe numb.

In his touching sermon, Bishop Robert Kurtz urged people in Bermuda not to lose their faith but instead to use it to help them build in strength.

And he said, as author Edward Linenthal said, we are now living in times that can be labelled an "eclipse of normality".

In this strange half light, said the Bishop, we experience shadows and fears, as well as glimmers of new hope.

Bishop Kurtz said: "We have all seen the signs and symbols of destruction and death reflected on our TV screens and in the lives of thousands of individuals and families. Not only Americans, but also people of many different nations have lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks of September 11.

"This morning, we remember the Bermudian victims of the World Trade Center disaster - Rondelle Tankard and Boyd Gatton. May they rest in peace.

"For many, these times are a test of faith. Many ask `where is God in all of this evil and suffering? How can such evil be carried out in the name of God?' Of course, there are no simple or easy answer to these questions.

"But we do see glimmers of hope in signs of God's love and goodness, even in the midst of this eclipse of normality. We have been inspired by the heroism of a vast number of policemen and firemen who risked their lives to assist the victims of this tragedy.

"And what can we say of the millions of people who reached out to each other and continue to do so in a spirit of love and solidarity. In the midst of this tragedy, even the most cynical of Americans find cause for awe and wonder at the new-found patriotism which has emerged.

"We now live in a time when the melody and poetry of God Bless America brings tears to people's eyes."

The Cathedral yesterday morning was almost full with both locals and Americans, who were either living on the Island or on holiday here.

Among the congregation was Governor Thorold Masefield, Premier Jennifer Smith, Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons, a number of MPs, Mayor of Hamilton Lawson Mapp, and Senate President Alf Oughton.

The Proclamation from US President George W. Bush was read by Acting Consul General Jennifer Schools, and schoolgirl Madeline Gardener, this year's winner of the Tom Pettit Essay Competition, read her entry, which was entitled `Why I Am Thankful for Freedom'.

Pupil Laura Fasulo silenced the congregation when she sang `America the Beautiful', and among the many touching moments was a duet by Julie Madeiros and Valerie Moffat, who sang `Pie Jesu'.

Readings were also given by the Premier, Governor and representatives from various churches, including the Jewish Community of Bermuda.

And to finish on a patriotic note, the cathedral rang out with the sound of both the US and British national anthems, before the congregation filed out singing `Glory, Glory, Hallelujah'.

Organiser of this year's service, American Patricia Barry Pettit, who lives in Bermuda, said she was pleased it had gone so well, especially as there was nearly no Thanksgiving Day Service at all.

She said she stepped up to organise the service after the usual organisers, the US Consulate, said they would be unable to do it this year.

But Mrs. Pettit said she believed a Thanksgiving Day Service was needed this year more than any other after the events of September 11.

She said: "When I heard that there was not going to be a Thanksgiving service this year, I thought that somebody had to pick up the ball.

"I have been involved in years past with the Consulate, but it was definitely not going to happen this year, for reasons I don't know.

"I just felt it was a 50-year tradition in Bermuda and I didn't want that broken, so I decided to organise it.

"It was a nice service, and we had a lot of people there. I think it was even more poignant because of what happened. I'm pleased it went so well."