Prayer in Edmonton council chambers may have taken a hiatus but outside the pyramid, some are doing their best to keep the faith.

"I'm obviously frustrated," admitted Mayor Don Iveson after council this week, where the regular opening prayer was ceased to comply with a Supreme Court ruling banning the practice in a council in Quebec.

The ruling, Iveson pointed out, was against prayer based on one faith and led by the mayor of Saguenay but may have implications to Edmonton's practice of including as many groups as possible.

"I would have hoped that what we do, which is much more inclusive and has even had atheists come and present, that that would be seen differently. But the Supreme Court ruling is quite wide," Iveson said.

In the meantime, he said council may be practising the moment of quiet contemplation until the city solicitor gives a clearer view of what the options are.

That's not stopping faith groups outside chambers from finding common ground.

A call for an interfaith vigil was put out by the city's Anglican bishop, Rt. Rev. Jane Alexander.

"People of all faiths are aware of a hunger for peace in the world, especially in the face of the persecution of men, women and children in the most appalling way," said Alexander, reaching out to faith leaders to join her in a procession from their places of worship ending at Winston Churchill Square Thursday evening.

"There is a place for people of faith to stand in the gap between the world as God wishes it to be and the world we live in," she said.

david.lazzarino@sunmedia.ca

@SUNDaveLazz