Multifaith prayers for Earth to precede climate strike

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Before attending the mass environmental protest Friday at the Manitoba legislature, the city’s religious leaders are inviting Winnipeggers to sit silently for 60 minutes praying for the Earth.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/09/2019 (2514 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Before attending the mass environmental protest Friday at the Manitoba legislature, the city’s religious leaders are inviting Winnipeggers to sit silently for 60 minutes praying for the Earth.

Two simultaneous prayer services are scheduled for 10:45 a.m. at All Saints’ Anglican Church and Broadway Disciples Church, locations chosen for their proximity to the legislative grounds, where the global climate strike takes place from noon to 5 p.m.

“We’re doing this in response to young people who are fearing for the future of the Earth,” said organizer Lynda Trono of West Broadway Community Ministry.

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press
Lynda Trono (left), with Corinna Mintuck, says Prayers for the Earth is a non-partisan event.
Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Lynda Trono (left), with Corinna Mintuck, says Prayers for the Earth is a non-partisan event.

“Every faith tradition should be all over it, because it’s about creation, it’s about respect for integrity of creation.”

Leaders from 15 religious traditions will speak or pray for up to five minutes each, and they have all been invited to share wisdom from their tradition, but not preach, said Trono.

“This is political, but it is non-partisan,” she said.

“This is for all of us. Climate change will affect all of us.”

Two Sikh musicians are scheduled to play traditional sacred music at All Saints’ Anglican, and a choir from Westgate Mennonite Collegiate is to sing during the service at Broadway Disciples United.

Buddhist Tanis Moore plans to recite a short prayer for the Earth and then lead the people assembled at Broadway Disciples United in meditation.

“In an event like this, we’re all standing together for the same reason,” said Moore, who practises Buddhism in the Jodo Shinshu tradition.

While climbing to the top of the world in May, when he summited Mount Everest, Winnipeg teacher Dalip Shekhawat witnessed melting glaciers, high winds and other extreme weather due to climate change.

“We lost two climbers because of the extreme weather,” said Shekhawat, who will offer prayers from the Hindu tradition.

“I saw heavy winters, very strong winds.”

Trono encourages participants to bring signs and symbols of their faith to communicate the diversity of religious traditions coming together to pray for the Earth.

The prayer services are a public opportunity for people of faith to support young people calling for action on environmental issues and also offer them hope during an uncertain future, said Lutheran Bishop Jason Zinko of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod. “The hope in this is God will work in the world despite what we do, but it will be easier if we work alongside God,” he said.

faith@freepress.mb.ca

 

The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba through our Religion in the News project. This reporting continues because readers like you step forward to fund it.

Donate now to support our reporting on religion.

Your donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt. BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER

Brenda Suderman

Brenda Suderman
Faith reporter

Brenda Suderman has been a columnist in the Saturday paper since 2000, first writing about family entertainment, and about faith and religion since 2006.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

History

Updated on Thursday, September 26, 2019 4:46 PM CDT: Corrects address of church.

Report Error Submit a Tip

The Free Press acknowledges the financial support it receives from members of the city’s faith community, which makes our coverage of religion possible.

More Stories

Fusion pop-up coming to street food festival

Tiago Resko 3 minute read Preview

Fusion pop-up coming to street food festival

Tiago Resko 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

After surviving breast cancer and watching her husband live through a brain tumour, Marilyn Magtoto decided it was time to take a chance.

Read
2:01 AM CDT

Moving rail lines outside city would make Winnipeg ‘major transportation hub’

Carol Sanders 6 minute read Preview

Moving rail lines outside city would make Winnipeg ‘major transportation hub’

Carol Sanders 6 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

After decades of calls to move rail traffic to the outskirts of Winnipeg, a plan that would benefit residents, railways and taxpayers is now on track, says the former Winnipegger leading the way.

A rail line bypass south of the city, using Crown-owned land and the Manitoba Hydro corridor, would take 20 years to complete, remove 120 railway crossings that are a safety risk and free up about 250 acres of Winnipeg land over time for development, Lloyd Axworthy said Wednesday.

“The visions that we have have to be implemented,” Axworthy said at a news conference announcing the launch of a 90-day feasibility study to move freight rail traffic out of Winnipeg’s urban core along Manitoba Hydro’s southern transmission corridor, connecting east to west along the Perimeter Highway.

The former federal transport minister and Manitoba MP was tasked by Premier Wab Kinew in October 2024 to lead a two-year rail relocation feasibility study.

Read
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

Inmate captured after escape from Manitoba jail

Free Press staff 1 minute read Preview

Inmate captured after escape from Manitoba jail

Free Press staff 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:46 PM CDT

Manitoba RCMP have arrested an inmate who escaped from Milner Ridge Correctional Centre Wednesday.

Mounties apprehended Justin Paul at about 11 a.m. Thursday near Highway 11 and Minnewawa Street W in Lac du Bonnet.

Court records show Paul was in custody charged with multiple offences, including assault, uttering threats, robbery, theft and numerous weapon offences.

Last April, Paul pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court and was sentenced to six months probation.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 1:46 PM CDT

‘Disrespectful’: residents frustrated after Wyatt arrives hour late to committee meeting

Joyanne Pursaga 3 minute read Preview

‘Disrespectful’: residents frustrated after Wyatt arrives hour late to committee meeting

Joyanne Pursaga 3 minute read Yesterday at 4:37 PM CDT

Several Winnipeggers attending a city development hearing on Thursday expressed frustration that one councillor arrived about an hour late, delaying the matter from being heard.

Coun. Russ Wyatt, who continues to attend city hall while facing criminal charges, began participating in the 9:30 a.m. East Kildonan-Transcona community committee meeting at 10:35 a.m.

A resident who hoped to speak at the meeting about a development plan in south Transcona noted the tardiness led the committee to bump the topic down on its agenda, while dozens waited to speak on it.

Christina Pyra eventually opted to leave city hall instead of waiting for her turn to make a presentation, to avoid missing a work commitment.

Read
Yesterday at 4:37 PM CDT

PCs say Hutterite colonies singled out by Bill 21

Alex Lambert 4 minute read Preview

PCs say Hutterite colonies singled out by Bill 21

Alex Lambert 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

SOURIS — Members of Hutterite colonies in the province took aim at the NDP government’s proposed changes to drinking water legislation during a public meeting Thursday in Souris.

The meeting was hosted by Progressive Conservative MLA Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods) to hear from rural residents about their concerns over Bill 21, which the government says will improve oversight on wells and other water systems in the province.

“There’s not enough clarity, but I feel that the overreach that this bill will bring is not clearly defined, and it could have a lot of negative consequences,” attendee Gilbert Hofer, a member of Green Acres colony near Wawanesa, said after the meeting, which drew about 20 people.

The legislation would allow public health officers to designate the type of water source based on its intended use, water quality and use duration rather than solely the number of connections it has.

Read
2:01 AM CDT

Multifaith prayers for Earth to precede climate strike

Brenda Suderman     3 minute read Preview

Multifaith prayers for Earth to precede climate strike

Brenda Suderman     3 minute read Thursday, Sep. 26, 2019

Before attending the mass environmental protest Friday at the Manitoba legislature, the city’s religious leaders are inviting Winnipeggers to sit silently for 60 minutes praying for the Earth.

Two simultaneous prayer services are scheduled for 10:45 a.m. at All Saints’ Anglican Church and Broadway Disciples Church, locations chosen for their proximity to the legislative grounds, where the global climate strike takes place from noon to 5 p.m.

“We’re doing this in response to young people who are fearing for the future of the Earth,” said organizer Lynda Trono of West Broadway Community Ministry.

“Every faith tradition should be all over it, because it’s about creation, it’s about respect for integrity of creation.”

Read
Thursday, Sep. 26, 2019