Pastor Joe A. Carter led congregants in a Sunday prayer service for Whitney Houston at the Newark, N.J., church where she had been a member, the church said.

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The pastor petitioned "the Lord on behalf of Whitney's daughter, her mother, and the entire Houston Family," a statement posted on the Web site of New Hope Baptist Church, said.

Houston, 48, died Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif. The cause of death is under investigation but authorities allege bottles of prescription drugs were found in the hotel room where Houston died.

Her mother, Cissy Houston, is a renowned performer of gospel and pop music and served as director of the church's sacred music for more than half a century. Carter said "she needs our prayers and support," CNN reported.

"Whitney was a mother, a daughter, a sister, and that's the focus that we want to keep in front of everyone today, to continue to lift the family up and respect this time of grief," Carter said.

The history of New Hope Baptist Church is "deeply associated with the power of Whitney's voice and the influence that she's had, not only in this church but across the world," Carter said. "We're saddened at this loss."