On a restrained and saddened Easter, South Florida clergy launched a healing effort in the wake of Saturday's uproar over the seizure of Elian Gonzalez by federal authorities.

 It's a healing effort that is expected to involve a broad range of community leaders, public gatherings and discussions over the next several weeks as people come to grips with the reunification of the boy with his Cuban father.

 ''We in South Florida need to take a stand for peace,'' the Rev. Mary Tumpkin urged her congregation at the Universal Truth Center for Better Living in Carol City. ''It begins with me.''

 At an Easter sunrise service on the beach, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle asked parishioners -- from a cross-section of churches -- to renew their respect for other humans.

 ''We must allow each other the right to disagree, without letting those disagreements destroy our friendships,'' he said. ''We must begin healing.''

 From pulpits throughout South Florida, pastors prayed for the Gonzalez family, for Elian, and for the community that briefly
 cherished him as one of its own. That collective message marked the beginning of a broader process of reaching out.

 For the most part, Miami was peaceful Sunday. A late roadside rally in West Dade slowed some traffic on Bird Road near the Palmetto Expressway.

 Exile leaders said they would try to arrange a public vigil for all Miami residents, possibly on Tuesday, though their plans were tentative Sunday.

 On Wednesday, there will be a televised ''town hall'' meeting, which will include officials from the Community Relations Board, the Hispanic Coalition, the Anti-Defamation League and other groups. It will be broadcast on WPLG-ABC Channel 10 at 8 p.m. The talks are designed to foster inter-ethnic understanding.

 ''It's time for this community to come together. Despite our sharp differences, this community continues to function. This is an opportunity for meaningful dialogues,'' Miami-Dade Alex Penelas said in a plea for unity on the Sunday television talk show This Week With Michael Putney.

 Next month, Penelas' office will begin a series of dialogues called the ''Miami-Dade Mosiac Initiative,'' which will be led by dozens of ethnic, civic and religious leaders and economic empowerment agencies.

 At Little Havana's St. Juan Bosco Catholic Church, which is often attended by Elian's Miami relatives, Easter service was a way for a community to channel its pain.

 PACKED CHURCH

 The church was packed, standing room only, amid the pastel-colored flowers, red candles and statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Lazarus that filled the room.

 During one service, Father William Chacon spoke about the ''moral evils'' that stem from the improper use of freedom and ''destroy our families, our communities, our cities, our governments'' -- a critical reference to the predawn raid on the Gonzalez home.

 Still, Chacon urged reconciliation and acceptance.

 ''With all the evil in the world, you may ask, 'Where is God?' '' Chacon preached. ''But we cannot blame God. He is the one who gave us freedom. And from the very worst situation, God can find something redeeming.''

 Miles north at Universal Truth Center, Tumpkin explained after the service that the most meaningful dialogue occurs when the parties hear each other and respect their views. ''Some people feel that if you don't hear me, you don't agree with me,'' Tumpkin said.

 SPARKING VIOLENCE

 She said violence occurs when people who are upset personalize the thoughts of others that are different from theirs.

 ''When we get into that type of thinking, hope of dialogue is lost.''

 South Florida has often shown its resilience from painful experiences -- hurricanes, riots, refugee crises. In each instance, individuals have stepped forward to pull the community together.

 Those who have experience in bringing together aggrieved parties in past disruptions say the clergy is a critical starting point to create discussion so people can start to vent, then heal.

 The successful model requires leaders in the grieving community to step forward and articulate the concerns of those who are offended, said Robert Simms, former director of the county's Community Relations Board. Simms led the board during Miami's racial and immigration turbulence in the 1970s and early '80s.

 Simms said that strategy was employed during unrest in the black community. ''You let people vent. Then you bring in leaders who can transfer pain into an action plan,'' he said.

 PUBLIC DISTURBANCE

 Typically, there is a 10-day window after a public disturbance that is most optimal for dialogue, Simms said. The government should immediately begin to seek suggestions from community leaders on how to repair the damage, he said.

 Simms recalled an incident in the late 1970s in which the arrest of a popular black activist inflamed the community. Former Miami Commissioner Athalie Range sat with county officials to articulate community concerns and offer solutions.

 As a result of those discussions, leaders realized the need for a black assistant city manager. ''From that dialogue, Dewey Knight Jr. was appointed,'' Simms said.

 Dialogue aside, Tumpkin said spiritual leaders can take a lead role in helping congregants channel pain by teaching them to control their own emotions.

 Or it could be learned through song.

 MOVED TO TEARS

 At Little Havana's St. Juan Bosco, 11-year-old Milena Libertad, whose last name means ''liberty,'' belted out a song she composed about Elian:

 ''If you love me, hear me, dad. I don't want to go back to Cuba,'' she sang.

 People were moved to tears. The congregation broke into applause. Churchgoers scrambled to meet Milena -- who came to this country on a raft about a year ago -- and thank her for the song.

 ''I cry for the child,'' said Concepcion Pelaez, 76, of Little Havana. ''The Mass did me very good because as we cry, we release our pain.''

 Herald staff writers Daniel A. Grech and Diana Marrero contributed to this report.