ADF thoughts and prayers go out to comrades sent to support the war against terrorism from St John's cathedral in Brisbane during the national day of prayer. Photo by PO Chris Woods.

CA Lt-Gen Peter Cosgrove, left, with Prime Minister John Howard at the RMC Chapel. Photo by Cpl Wade Laube .

The ADF held a national day of prayer on November 8 for the deployment of personnel to the international coalition against terrorism.

Ten ecumenical services were held around the country on the departure day of HMA Ships Adelaide and Kanimbla for the gulf.

Prime Minister John Howard, CA Lt-Gen Peter Cosgrove, CAF AM Angus Houston, DCN RAdm Brian Adams, Defence Secretar Allan Hawke, politicians, diplomats and ADF families attended a service at RMC Chapel.

Mr Howard read from the Old Testament during the service led by Chap Bill Fuller.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven ... a time for war and a time for peace," he said in a reading from Ecclesiastes.

Chap Fuller told the congregation that Australia stood for freedom and justice and that consequently we must act against terrorism.

"Once again, the youth of our nation is being called upon to face danger and death so that truth and justice and dignity of every human being is universally respected and cherished," he said.

"If the good continue to do nothing, then evil will triumph.

"God be with you young Aussie heroes and come home soon to a grateful nation - advance Australia fair."

In Melbourne, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley told a congregation at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral that the nation's politicians were praying for the safe return of Australian solders.

Mr Beazley said all politicians, irrespective of political persuasion, solidly support all deploying members of the ADF.

"The prayers of the government, the prayers of all those in politics in this country [are] for your safe return," he said.

Townsville's, Chap John Buttler prayed for the safety of all who had been and would be deployed.

"There is a time to uproot, a time to kill, a time to tear down, a time for war," he said.

"These times must never be chosen lightly or for the wrong reasons. But we know that all it needs for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing and now is certainly not the time for inaction."