Sentence:  This is brought out in the common religious ethos that prevails even in the denominationally diverse audiences at many secular semi-public and public occasions in the United States ; and it is evidenced in the <WSD>prayers</WSD> offered , in the frequent religious allusions , and in the confirmation of points on religious grounds . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)