Pastor John Silbert of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Butler shines his light at Tuesday night's prayer vigil outside Butler Memorial Hospital. Organized by pastors from the Butler Clergy Network, area residents signed up for either a morning or evening prayer session in support of workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle.

Twice on Tuesday, the glow of candles outside Butler Memorial Hospital showed appreciation for the hard-working health care workers who waved and peaked out from the windows.

For both sessions, held during the morning and evening, about 50 people per session held candles in the darkness. Some prayed. Some sang Christmas songs. Some talked with one another — albeit 6 feet apart — about the respect they had for the workers inside.

For some, saying “thank you” was accompanied by emotion and devotion.

Betty Graham of East Butler belongs to the Hill Presbyterian Church.

“I worked at this hospital until I retired. I had COVID back in March, and I had excellent care at this hospital,” said Graham looking up toward the rooms above. “My husband was in at the same time. He passed away, but he also had excellent care from them.”Graham said she wanted the people working in the hospital to see and feel the love and appreciation the community has for them.“I do believe prayer has results. I think it's also a solidarity that we feel together on this,” she said. “We care.”Patrick Lane, 18, of Butler, said he felt called to honor real-life heroes. He said with the latest COVID-19 resurgence, this was one way he could make a difference for those heroes.“Some of these workers here are putting their own lives at risk. They're risking their lives every day to treat this awful disease,” Lane said. “I'm just praying for everybody in this hospital. I'm praying for their safety, and I'm praying for their families.”At the evening service, some of the employees waved as they left for their vehicles, having finished a long shift at work. Whenever an employee walked by the line of people who circled the hospital, the vigil attendees voiced their appreciation.“They reached out to us,” said Carole Boes, coordinator of the employee assistance program for BHS. “We needed it. It's been several months into this now, so this is much appreciated. We are very grateful.”

Multiple pastors from the Butler Clergy Network helped to organize and orchestrate signups for both prayer sessions.“We know how hard they're working. We know what a risk they're taking, especially in the care of COVID-19 patients,” said Pastor Mary Kitchen, who serves both North and East Butler Presbyterian churches.Kitchen said the idea for the event came from Pastor Merry Meloy of Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, who suggested it to the pastoral group as “a ring of light around the hospital.” She said many other pastors as well as BHS staff were involved in the communication and coordination of the events.Kitchen said prayer and faith have so much more meaning today because the world is in crisis.“When we pray, we're encountering the living God who is with the workers and the patients,” Kitchen said. “When we come together in prayer, we are asking for his help in this crisis and the pandemic.”She said everything has changed in 2020, especially for the brave people who are on the front lines of the pandemic.“We wanted to let them know that we stand with them,” Kitchen said.

Hospital staff look on from a window during Tuesday night's prayer vigil outside of Butler Memorial Hospital.

Samantha Roth of Butler helps her mother, Arlene Roth, relight her candle at Tuesday night's prayer vigil outside Butler Memorial Hospital. Another group gathered Tuesday morning outside the hospital to show their gratitude for health care workers.