participate in a week of collective prayer with the hope it will decrease the amount of drug-related crimes.

A letter sent to the leaders of several faiths by the National Association for Reconciliation said: "It is our belief that both drugs and crime have a negative impact on (race) relations.

"Those of us who believe in prayer must come together and make these issues a matter of committed prayer.'' The letter asked congregations of every creed to "put aside the last week in October so that together we can plead for relief from both drugs and their resulting crimes''.

The NAR's Eva Hodgson explained: "Bermuda's places of worship are often divided by colour, class, race, culture or theology. Our hopes are that, for one week, both places of worship and their individual members will make the issue of drugs a special mention in prayer.'' She added: "The NAR recognises prayer can be seen as a way of escape from direct action. However, faith without works is dead. We hope that those who take this matter seriously will be motivated to get directly involved in both race relations and the `war against drugs'.'' Dr. Hodgson described how some people she had talked to did not feel that prayer was enough and "called for more specific and direct action''.

But she said: "In the end, prayer can be both the fuel and the foundation on which constructive action across the races can be built.''