@Ingway
To each his own, to each his own. For some, prayer may just be mumbling into the sky, whereas for others, it's a means of doing the most effective thing they can in a time of need or crisis. But take the religious part out of prayer and what does one get? Positive thinking, mass positive thinking. Keeping hope alive and focusing on the fact that "even darkness must pass, and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer" (Samwise Gamgee). And this happens because of divine action? Maybe. But do good things happen when many people band together, regardless of creed, race, religion, or fandom association under a single cause of sending best regards? Certainly.

TL;DR
Yes Mr. Ingway, you are right in a sense, but even if one does not believe in the power of prayer, any human can believe in the power of hope and love.

I bet'ye it’s Purple Tinker in disguise.