01/09/2026
FROM THE WINY RADIO NEWSROOM: An interfaith Candlelight Vigil will be held this Sunday, January 11th at 5 pm at Davis Park in Danielson.
WINY spoke with Pastor Ross Johnson from the Living Faith United Methodist Church (UMC) in Putnam, who said there is so much heaviness right now with world events, national news, and our own personal lives, that it would be a healing experience to gather as people of many faiths to share some light in the midst of the darkness.
“I probably as with many in our wider communities have just been kind of feeling really heavy regarding the recent international and national crises that we’re finding ourselves in, and I think every faith community probably has its own sufferings happening in our own backyards,” Pastor Johnson said. “So I’ve reached out to a few of my colleagues in the past couple days to see if they were feeling similarly, and they all were. So we thought that the best way to respond would be to gather as people of faith to unite for a time of candles and prayers and hymns.”
Pastor Johnson said this candlelight vigil is intended to be a healing experience for everyone, regardless of your personal political or spiritual persuasions.
“This is not a protest. This is not a rally. This is not a demonstration,” Pastor Johnson explained. “We collectively hear about all these things happening in the news, and there’s not really a way for people to respond. Sometimes we see people respond over Facebook or other forums, and that sometimes comes out as vitriol. But in many ways, as people of faith, we know that we’re part of something, and that we’re people of hope and people of light.”
All are welcome to attend.
A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR ROSS JOHNSON:
"Good afternoon, friends,
My heart has been rather heavy these last few days. There are so many international crises, national developments, and suffering even in our own faith community that weigh upon me and I bet on you as well.
Yesterday I reached out to a number of local faith communities to see if this was something they were experiencing too. Turns out we all were feeling similarly. This is why we are organizing a candlelight vigil this Sunday, January 11th, at 5pm at Davis Park in the heart of Danielson.
This event is not a protest or a rally; rather, it is a sacred time to gather as people of many faiths to respond in our own way to everything going on. At the park we will find commonality, name what we are grieving, and share some light with one another. There will be prayers, singing, tears, laughter, and above all: hope.
I am attaching a flier about the event. Please share it with those who may be interested in attending. I hope to see you there.
Blessings,
Ross"
