Praying for world's - and city's - young victims

Annie had lived in Alexandria, Va., and her parents made the trip to Baltimore yesterday. They carried a candle to the altar and after the service went to the back of the church for a private moment of prayer. They believe their daughter was killed, have no idea why she suddenly left home and are awaiting results of tests from an FBI lab to learn a cause of death.

On Dec. 19, the McCanns came to Baltimore to meet with homicide detectives, who took them to the spot Annie had been found. It was the first time they'd been there. Mary Jane McCann left behind an angel she had taken from their Christmas tree. The wait for answers is hard. The visit to Perkins Homes was painful.

During the service, the Rev. Jan Hamill singled out Annie McCann, noting her death is not "technically a homicide" but that she deserves to be remembered because "she died in our city."

Hamill noted that Jesus was an outcast, shunned by his community and friendly with the people who lived on fringes of society. She said her church will continue to partner with city schools, to reorganize and spend money on its after-school program, to pray.

She challenged her parishioners to do the same. "Each of you will do something," she said. "What will it be?"

Hamill asked each person to fill out a card describing their plans for the new year to help the city's youth and end the violence, and to drop it in the collection plate. "God has the power to save this city," she said.

"Maybe because of your faithfulness, another child will be able to celebrate a birthday in Baltimore."