CALIFORNIA,
USA
(2004
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
New Vision
United Methodist Church, California, USA
Last Sunday,
September 19, 2004, our New Vision United Methodist
Church (NVUMC) celebrated the September 21st United Nations and
United Religions Initiative (UN/URI) International Day of Peace. The
church was decorated on one front wall with a 'peace banner'- multicolored
with a white dove in the center, made by HanneLore Nepote, and on
the other front wall was a blue and white UN flag. After Rev.
Sun Hee Kim spoke to the children and youth about living with love
and the meaning of the UN Flag, the young people placed flags of other
nations in front of the altar. Rev. Jeff Kunkel's sermon on
'The Serenity Prayer' focused our thoughts toward prayerful peace.
Following the service the congregation gathered in the patio around
the 6 foot 'peace pole,' created and painted by Diana Marcoux, Hanitra
Cabannes, Anna Hurrell and Carol Evans, which was surrounded by the
international flags - moved there from the sanctuary by the youth.
A lighted peace sign, made by Kay Runkle, hung over the Fellowship
Hall door. After Carol Negro led the adult and youth choir and the
congregation in singing several interfaith songs, we entered the Hall
for a special luncheon. There was a descriptive display of the
history and overview of the United Nations and of the United Religions
Initiative.
We shared the fact that the morning's interfaith service and
peace event had been a truly heartwarming experience - exemplified
in a quote from Sojourners Magazine:
“Nothing
that I can do will change the structure of the
Universe.
But maybe, by raising my voice I can help
the
greatest of all causes - goodwill among men and peace
on
earth.” – Albert Einstein
Margaret Jones
Ojai
The
International Day of Peace was a special occasion for the people of
Ojai,
California,
when Meditation Mount offered an inspirational program connecting
with all others around the world, praying for peace. Fumi Stewart
presented the World Peace Flag Ceremony. Children from Ojai carried
the flags as we affirmed, "May Peace Prevail on Earth."
Andrea Kay Smith shared details of Peace
Gardens
and Peace Poles that Partnerships In Peace has planted in Atlanta,
Georgia.
There was Celtic harp, didgeridoo, guitar, songs for peace, meditation,
a peace poem and finally a World Blessing on the terrace. The event
brought many people together to focus on the intention of peace. Everyone
received a peace button and sticker as we "passed on the peace."
Afterwards, we had refreshments and shared our experience.
Andrea Kay Smith
Partnerships In Peace
San
Francisco
Greetings of love and peace, and blessings on this International
Day of Peace.
Though it’s still Sept. 20th here in San Francisco, we have
been observing the Day of Peace since early this morning in solidarity
with our sisters and brothers farther to the east who are a day ahead
of us.
I shared lunch today with Soulieman Ghali, the head of the
Islamic Center of San Francisco. We lamented so much hatred, so much
destruction and death in the world. But we rejoiced in the interfaith
friendships that have blossomed in San Francisco and that are blossoming
around the world; and we shared a commitment to continue to plant
the seeds of those friendships, trusting that they will increasingly
bear the fruits of peace, justice and healing for all.
So, on this International Day of Peace, I pray that peace may
prevail on Earth.
Love,
Charles Gibbs
Executive Director, United Religions Initiative
San
Jose
The International Day of Peace resolution and the prayer did
happen at our San Jose City Council meeting on September 21st. And,
I was also given a few minutes at the time of the awarding of the
resolution to speak about the International Day of Peace. The attached
photos are of the moment of prayer (sorry missed the people!) and
offering information and inspiration about the day with Mayor Ron
Gonzales and Councilman Dave Cortese on either side of me.
For us at CSE, the resolution represents the commitment we have made
to keep this light of peace on in our community by recognizing this
international day each year. It was a good beginning.
With blessings of peace,
Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian, Spiritual Director
Center for Spiritual Enlightenment
www.csecenter.org
San
Ramon
Sowing Peace
M.
A. Center
A grand ceremony was held at the M. A. Center on Saturday,
September 25th during Amma’s 51st Birthday celebrations. It was the
planting of an international symbol of peace, the Peace Pole, at the
entrance to the ashram.
Four days earlier, on September 21st, Amma suggested that everyone
around the world pray together at 12 noon during the United Nation’s
International Peace Day.
“Today, the need for prayer and spiritual practices is greater
than ever before,” Amma said. “There are people who think, ‘What can
my individual prayers possibly change?’ We shouldn’t think this way.
Through prayer, we are sowing the seeds of love. If just one flower
were to blossom in the middle of a desert, wouldn’t it at least be
something. If a tree were to grow there, wouldn’t it at least provide
some small amount of shade? Terrorists, the violent and the warmongers—their
love has run dry. They have no compassion. May the prayers of scores
of people like us fill the atmosphere with love and compassion and
thereby help bring about a change in their attitudes, at least to
some extent.”
More
than 200 devotees sat in silent contemplation for some time after
chanting 1000 Names of Divine Mother imbibing Amma’s vision of peace
and harmony. Each one then wrote their individual prayers on small
papers and silently carried them to the patio to be deposited at the
base of the Peace Pole. It was truly a sacred moment and many of them
were overwhelmed as they carried the prayers in their folded palms.
While all chanted “Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu” (May all
beings be happy and peaceful), each devotee lovingly scooped a handful
of mud to plant the prayers, intentions and anchor the Peace Pole
in the earth. Many chanted this prayer in their native language: Choktaw,
Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, French and more.
This
prayerful initiation of the Peace Pole signified Mother’s desire for
all of us to “sow seeds of love” through our constant prayers. Ancient
and traditional Sanskrit prayers, arati and bhajans on the auspicious
occasion of Mother’s birthday combined with a contemporary global
ritual reminded us that we are all united with all who yearn for peace
on Earth, today.
We are now consciously linked with yet another powerful global
network of peacemakers. More than 200,000 other churches, synagogues,
civic centers and homeowners around the world have ceremonially planted
the International Peace Pole to affirm, remember and deepen the commitment
to anchor and expand the vibration of peace on Earth, now.
More about the Peace Pole: Amma had blessed this Peace Pole
earlier this summer. The Pole is made of cedar, a wood that is considered
sacred in the Native American tradition. There are 4 sides to the
pole. The words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is written on each face
of the Peace Pole in four languages that Amma chose: Malayalam, English,
Spanish and Arabic.
This Pole of Peace was not merely planted on the soil of the
ashram grounds, but deeply planted in everyone's hearts.
Mata Amritanandamayi Center
www.amma.org
2004
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
May
Peace Prevail
On Earth
