Three events in Manatee this week to honor Orlando victims

Two events will be held Wednesday in the Bradenton-Sarasota area to further honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.

The Church of the Trinity, 7225 Lockwood Ridge Road, will hold an interfaith prayer service at 7 p.m. The Rev. Charles Tigard will lead the congregation.

“We call for a time of prayer from all religions in this country that a time of peace and prosperity might be enjoyed by all,” wrote Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, global leader of Metropolitan Community Churches and a Bradenton resident.

Junior Salazar, a community relations coordinator at the Manatee Avenue OneBlood location and candidate for mayor of Bradenton, is also coordinating a vigil at 8 p.m. at Bradenton Riverwalk.

Vigil attendees are asked to meet at the staging area, park in the paved or grassy area, and bring their own candles and wax drip catchers, as candles aren’t allowed on any of the brick or concrete structures. Those without drip catchers are asked to stand in the grass, and battery-operated candles are preferred, according to the city of Bradenton.

A pastor from Bayside Community Church will be one of the speakers, as well as words from Michael “Miss Mikey” Lamb and cupcakes from Cake King Bennett.

On Sunday, Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will host an open conversation to discuss faith, violence and the LGBTQ community after the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service.

Consulting minister Rev. Dee Graham and PRISM youth group director Valerie Fisher will moderate discussion at the 322 15th St. W. location.

“After the shock of the moment wanes, people need somewhere to express all the emotions that flood in,” Graham said in a press release. “We want to provide the support and understanding for these conversations to begin.”

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Three events in Manatee this week to honor Orlando victims."