Nearly 10,000 persons attended neighborhood church services last night, the first evening of the victory holiday.

Worshippers assembled to offer their thanks for peace and to honor those men and women who died in battle.

The Christ Episcopal Church was filled to capacity when the Rt. Rev. Thomas Heistand of Harrisburg delivered a message of thanksgiving during a combined Episcopalian congregation service there at 7:30 o’clock.

Members of Messiah Lutheran Church attended hourly services at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd throughout the day and gathered in the main sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. for a congregational program of thanksgiving. The text was “The Responsibility of Victory.” The choir sang the Recessional.

At Temple Beth Ha-Shalom and Ohev Shalom services of thanksgiving with hymns and prayers were sung. Audiences of 130 and 100 respectively, attended.

The churches of Newberry observed victory day with special services at Newberry Methodist Church. Music was presented by the combined choirs.

In several of the downtown churches the observances were similar to the V-E Day program.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church was open for individual meditation during the day and in the evening more than 500 members attended a special service of thanksgiving.

Holy Day services marking the Feast of the Assumption were combined with special masses of thanksgiving in the city’s Catholic parishes. Attendance at the services concluded with a victory day worship service in several churches approximated 4,000.

Montoursville’s union service was held in the Methodist Church.