At a time when Muslims normally pray, community members of all faiths in Williams Lake are asked to gather to remember those killed and injured in the shooting attack on a mosque in Quebec City Sunday.
The gathering will be held in the city hall council chambers at noon on Friday Feb. 3.
Rev. Dr. Keith Dobyns, of the Williams Lake Interfaith Circle and pastor at St. Peter’s Anglican Church said noon on Friday was chosen for the gathering because it is a time that Muslims customarily gather for their community prayers.
“We want our Muslim friends to know that we value their presence among us and that we reject the violent rhetoric that results in such tragedy,” Rev. Dobyns said.
“We will invite several religious leaders to pray each in their own tradition: for an end to violence, for the welfare and protection of our Muslim friends, and for a spirit of reconciliation.”
He said participants are encouraged to wear clothing and/or bring symbols of their own faith or tradition.
“Let’s be the loving and diverse community we believe in,” Rev. Dobyns said.
The Women’s Contact Society, Women’s Spirituality Circle, and the Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin Branch are joining the Williams Lake Interfaith Circle in encouraging people to attend the gathering.
During their regular lunch meeting Wednesday, members discussed organizing the vigil, which leader Margaret Anne Enders said would last about an hour.
Toward the end of the meeting the group drafted a letter to the editor inviting the community to attend the vigil at city hall and outlining their purpose.
“Part of our purpose is to help reduce attitudes and incidences of racism, violence and intolerance in our world by nurturing and supporting peaceful relationships in our community,” Margaret-Anne Enders, Eva Navrot, Maggie Ranger, The Rev. Kristen Dobyns, Lindsey Bifford, Rylee Smith, Thea Fast, and Angie Holdal, said in that letter.
