Prayers for tsunami victims replace Christmas celebrations

SUMUR, Indonesia — Christmas celebrations traditionally filled with laughter and uplifting music were replaced by somber prayers for tsunami victims in an area hit without warning, leaving more than 420 people dead and thousands more homeless in disaster-prone Indonesia.Pastor Markus Taekz said Tuesday that his Rahmat Pentecostal Church in the hard-hit area of Carita did not celebrate with joyous songs this year. Instead, he said only about 100 people showed up for the Christmas Eve servic