ILLINOIS
USA
(2005
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
First Unitarian Church of Chicago
The
International Day of Peace - September 21
By Rosemary Snow
Members
of First Church, People in Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn, and many
throughout the world will celebrate and proclaim peace on Wednesday
September 21, the day set aside by the United Nations as the International
Day of Peace. Some of the activities planned are: Sunday September
18 - children’s activity at the 57th St Children’s Book Fair, coloring
flags of nations of the world and printing "May Peace Prevail
in . . . the name of the country on the back. Different languages
will be available. Wednesday September 21 - Ringing of the church
bell at 12 noon for 2 minutes. Other churches have been invited to
join in the bell-ringing. Reading of the UN Proclamation following
the bell ringing in front of the 57th Street Friends Meeting House
where there is a Peace Pole.
Other
events include: Saturday September 10 - Oak Park Peace Fair Noon to
5 PM at Scoville Park the corner of Lake St and Oak Park Ave in Oak
Park sponsored by the Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice, the
American Friends Service Committee and Chicagoans against War and
Injustice. 708-615-1603. "What Peace Looks Like" will include
activities, singing, booths, and performances as well as a Town Hall.
Peace
Journey, a program of SponsorKIDS Charities is sponsoring Music4Miracles
at Northerly Island September 21st. 312-573-1113
The
Chicago Peace Museum hosts "Imagine Peace" U2 Guitar Auction
and Benefit Concert Wednesday September 21st at Buddy Guy’s Legends,
754 S Wabash in Chicago 7PM-2AM $50.advance or call 773-638-6450 Emcee
Terri Hemmert of WXRT Radio, surprise guests.
Jennifer Kim, Chicago, Illinois
Last
Saturday the 17th we celebrated Peace Day in Chicago, over 150 people
joined us here at the Peace School for the event. It was
a focused group, the day was highlighted by One Minute of Silence
for World Peace at noon followed by our wishes, thoughts and prayers
for all countries of the world. This year we had children carrying
small flags (desk-size) for all the countries during the ceremony,
with soft live music representing each region of the world being played. I
believe most everyone enjoyed the addition of these two elements to
our version of the flag ceremony. A representative of the Mayor's
Office came and read Chicago Mayor's proclamation for Peace Days in
Chicago, honoring the two-week period from Sept 7 to 21 (Sept 7th
is the original Peace Day in Chicago since 1978, and the International
Day of Peace is the 21st).
We had songs from a children's
chorus from a very diverse elementary school who also spoke in unison
a message of love to the victims of hurricane Katrina. Two magnificent
tenors sang for us, a well-known Palestinian oud player (Issa Boulos)
and percussionist gave a stunning and heartfelt performance, and very
lively and colorful Ukrainian dancers were a delight. We ended the
program all singing together "Let There Be Peace On Earth"
and then had a reception with food donated from many wonderful restaurants.
We were also so happy to be in harmony with the events in New York
and Amenia the same weekend.
May Peace Be In The United States!!!
With much love to you, Jennifer
Kim, The Peace School
Chicago, Illinois, USA
The ChicagoDefender.com
Founded
in 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the Chicago Defender, for 100
years, has been the voice of the African-American Community in Chicago
and across the United States
GUEST EDITORIAL: International Day of Peace
http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/editorial.cfm?ArticleID=2246
by Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson
September 12, 2005
September
21 is a day designated by the United Nations since 1981 as a day of
witness and commitment by the citizens of the world to work for a
world of justice and peace. The World Council of Churches (WCC)
has joined in this special commemoration by calling on churches around
the world to pray for peace on September 21.
This
year’s WCC theme is “Building communities of peace for all,” which
was chosen by the churches of Asia, that are the focus of the WCC
Decade to Overcome Violence in 2005. This theme conveys a spirit
of celebrating diversity and an understanding that “the other” can
no longer be seen as the mortal enemy.
There
are many ways that churches, synagogues, mosques, schools, community
groups, cities and towns can be involved in the International Day
of Peace. Some might write letters to the President or their
elected officials in support of Congressman Kucinich’s bill to establish
a Department of Peace or of my own vision of a monument dedicated
to peace in Washington, D.C., where there are so many monuments to
war. Some might have prayer vigils or candlelight marches.
Some might have essay or art contests with children’s visions of peace.
Some might have poetry slams or music festivals for peace. Some may
choose to plant a peace pole in their gardens or school yard
or on their church or school grounds.
Here
in the United States one way to re-commit to working for a world of
peace with justice is a new interfaith movement to eliminate nuclear
weapons. There are some 30,000 nuclear weapons around the globe, which
have more than 100,000 times the explosive power of the bombs that
were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
When
the Cold War ended, many were under the impression that the danger
of nuclear weapons had also ended. But the truth is that the
danger from nuclear weapons is again mounting as the United States
continues to refuse to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and
other nations, beginning with North Korea, are seeing this as an opportunity
to back away from past agreements.
Thus,
on the 60 th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
a small interfaith group began a new movement to eliminate nuclear
weapons. It is asking people of good faith who agree with the
statement “No Country shall have nuclear weapons” to join them in
their effort to create a world of peace. In their creation
statement, they say, “So let us resolve to labor mightily for what
we pray for fervently, confident in the poet’s contention that ‘we
are only undefeated because we go on trying’...”
Whatever
each of us is doing to work for a world of peace with justice, it
is not enough. Let’s take time out on September 21 to pray for
peace....and then work to make it so.
Bernice
Powell Jackson is executive director of the Commission for Racial
Justice for the United Church of Christ.
Edwardsville, Illinois, USA
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
http://www.siue.edu/RELIGION/CATHOLIC/peace.html
"ELEVEN
DAYS OF PEACE"
Schedule
To commemorate the events of September 11th, 2001, and
to celebrate September 21st, the U.N. International Day of Peace,
Catholic Newman Student Union (CNSU), United Campus Ministry (UCM),
SLDP and Raise Your Voice Student Organization will sponsor “Eleven
Days of Peace”, a celebration of peaceful activities and events.
This campaign will begin on Sunday, September 11th with a religious
remembrance of all victims of the World Trade Center bombings
and end on Wednesday, September 21st, the U.N. International Day
of Peace. We encourage all students, faculty and staff to
participate in all or as many of the following activities that interest
you. We hope that these eleven days will help all of us become
more non-violent in our relationships with others, nature and the
world at large. Celebrate and show your support for these 11
days by purchasing and wearing Peace buttons and bracelets.
Proceeds from the sale of these buttons and bracelets will go to UNICEF.
SUNDAY-SEPTEMBER 11: Catholic Campus Ministry will have a special 8 pm Mass
for Peace. If you have any relatives or friends who were directly
affected by this tragedy, please come to the Religious Center and
sign their names in our Book of Remembrance. These names will
be spoken during the prayers of this Mass. This book will be
in the Religious Center for signing, beginning on August 29, 2005.
MONDAY-SEPTEMBER 12: 12:15-1:00 pm brown bag lunch discussion at the Religious
Center. Free drinks and dessert. Come and discuss
with those from the Mennonite tradition. Learn how this
religion practices peace and non-violence.
TUESDAY-SEPTEMBER 13: Visit a display table outside Kimmel to learn
how local and national organizations advocate peace. Take an
inventory to see how peaceful a person you are. Stop in the
Goshen to make your own Peace button and purchase a Peace
bracelet ($2.00)
WEDNESDAY-SEPTEMBER 14: 12:15-1:00 pm brown bag lunch discussion at the
Religious Center. Free drinks and dessert. Come
and discuss with those from the Islamic tradition. Learn
what the Koran says about practicing non-violence and peace.
THURSDAY-SEPTEMBER 15: Come on down to MUC dining area and fold your own origami
crane and add to our demonstrations of "Cranes for Peace".
Student leaders will be on hand to assist you. Find out about
this unique international program.
FRIDAY-SEPTEMBER 16: Practice “random” acts of kindness today. Some suggestions:
~Use positive
and encouraging words with your friends and family.
~Write a letter
to local newspaper asking them to support the UN’s International
Day of Peace.
~Offer to tutor
someone for free.
~Call a family
member just to let them know you care.
~Offer unsolicited
compliments to your friends.
~Compliment
those who work on campus in the Residence Halls, MUC, professors.
~Have a conversation
with an International student and ask them how they are adjusting
to life in the USA.
SATURDAY-SEPTEMBER 17: Spend some time today reflecting on your own behavior
as a peaceful or violent person. Pay attention to your views
about caring for others, the environment and the earth. Commit
to changing negative behaviors.
SUNDAY-SEPTEMBER 18: Pray to your God for peace today.
MONDAY-SEPTEMBER 19: 12:15-1:00 pm brown bag lunch discussion at the Religious Center.
Free drinks and dessert. Come and discuss with those from the
Buddhist tradition. Learn what their sacred writings
say about practicing non-violence and peace.
TUESDAY-SEPTEMBER 20: Meet at 7:15 pm in the north entrance of the MUC
(across from the bookstore). As the bells toll, join others
in a Candlelight Peace Walk to the Religious Center.
Participate in a celebration of diversity around the Peace Pole.
Conclude with a celebration under the Dome at the Religious Center.
WEDNESDAY-SEPTEMBER 21: 12:15 pm. U.N.
International Day of Peace
At
12:15 pm,, come on down to the Religious Center and be part
of a group that will pledge non-violence. Write your name on
a poster that will be laminated and permanently hung in the Religious
Center and take home your own pledge card to keep as a reminder.
Commit yourself to living peacefully with all of humanity and
all of nature.
Springfield, Illinois, USA
American Province of the Hospital Sisters of the Third
Order of St. Francis
Hospital Sisters and Executives participate in International
Day of Prayer for Peace
The
Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and the thirteen
Executive Vice Presidents of the Hospital Sisters Health System Hospitals
participated in the International Day of Peace on September 21. The
ceremony was held at the Motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters in Springfield,
IL.
Following
a prayer service in the St. Clare Adoration Chapel and a gathering
around the Motherhouse Peace Pole, the group posed before flags of
the nations where the Hospital Sisters have served in their 160 year
history. The flags, from left, include India, Tanzania, Poland, Japan,
Germany, Taiwan, Haiti, China, and the United States of America. In
addition, the Hospital Sisters serve in the Czech Republic and Korea.
In 2001,
the United Nations unanimously passed a resolution designating September
21 as an International Day of Peace, asking the world to observe a
day of “global ceasefire and nonviolence” and to work toward strengthening
peace and alleviating tensions and conflict among the global community.
Each
year, Franciscans International helps to organize a worldwide effort
to observe the International Day of Peace in a spiritual manner, and
urges all Franciscans to join the vigil for peace. Franciscan participation
in this annual vigil is part of the contribution to replacing a culture
of terror with a culture of peace.
On
November 12, 1988, the Hospital Sisters held a ceremony to dedicate
their International Peace Pole. The pole is inscribed “May peace prevail
on earth” in four languages: English, the language of the American
Province of the Hospital Sisters; German, the language of the Order’s
Foundation; Japanese, to represent the Japanese Province; and Hebrew,
to represent the Jewish ancestors of worldwide faith including Jesus
Christ whose call for peace is recorded many times in the scriptures.
The
Peace Pole Network originated in Japan in the mid-1970s. Today, there
are over 200,000 peace poles in 180 countries of the world.
2005
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
May
Peace Prevail
On Earth
