Day of prayer for Senator Joe Manchin on All Saints Day, November 1, 2021

Green Shepherd, LLC

West Virginia Interfaith Power and Light (WVIPL) is sponsoring a Day of Prayer for Senator Joe Manchin on All Saints Day, November 1.

This day of prayer will be announced in conjunction with the Halloween Rally for Climate Action, Saturday, October 30, from 1 – 2:30 p.m., at 300 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV, sponsored by the West Virginia Climate Alliance. Copies of the prayer will be available and also circulated on social media.

WVIPL recognizes that Senator Joe Manchin and others in powerful, elected positions have been given the public trust to act for the common good. He and they therefore have a unique and special burden for moral and political leadership on decisions that affect all of us. WVIPL urges the United States to move decisively and with haste toward clean, renewable energy.


“I am deeply concerned about the accelerating effects of climate change, both in West Virginia and around the globe. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I am fervently praying that Senator Manchin supports the full Build Back Better agenda. West Virginia desperately needs the jobs and infrastructure improvements that would result from passage of that plan,” says Rev. Robin Blakeman, a member of the WVIPL steering committee.

West Virginia is no stranger to increasingly frequent and costly climate disasters. This past February, several counties in the southwestern part of the state were struck by a devastating and dangerous ice storm causing wide-spread tree damage and weeks’ long power outages for tens of thousands during below-freezing temperatures. In 2016, devastating floods caused by torrential rains, destroyed homes and took the lives of 23 people in Greenbrier County.

Climate disasters are killing people, disrupting lives, destroying homes and livelihoods, and leaving millions of people without power with an alarming frequency. Just this week, people in the United States have suffered through the latest rounds of extreme weather from coast to coast as well as places in between, with record-breaking wind and rain wreaking havoc in the fire-scarred landscapes on the West Coast from a bomb cyclone to devastating tornadoes in Illinois and Southeast Missouri, and a major storm battering the East Coast from New Jersey to Massachusetts with excessive rain, flooding, and near hurricane strength winds. Additionally, this week severe storms are predicted along the Gulf Coast region and eastward to a major portion of Florida.

“The climate crisis is upon us and millions of lives are literally at stake. Senator Manchin is in an unprecedented situation in which his vote will affect the lives of generations to come. We pray that he will use that vote for the common good of all humanity. At the same time, he is also in a unique position to enable a just, true, and timely transition for the coalfield communities that have given so much over the years.  And not only in West Virginia but throughout our nation and world. As people of faith, we need to take seriously our obligation as stewards of God’s creation.  We have a calling to commit to these goals in our personal lives, as well—to take collective action to protect people, our air and water,” said Rev. Jeff Allen, another WVIPL steering committee member.

Facebook link to the event — Text of the suggested prayer  — WVIPL

 ###

Contact:
Janet Keating
Green Shepherd, LLC
3043604201
[email protected]

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Religion News Service or Religion News Foundation.

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!