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Frederick Friends Meeting (Quakers) Jim Wagner, representing
At Friends Meeting we speak of the Inner Light, which is the Holy Spirit of God, and which is present in everyone. Many people throughout history have shown great Light. And now we need Light at this point in history as we address the many things that are impacting on peace: the environment, scarcity of resources and numerous other things that will be no doubt discussed at the different presentations of the “Season For Nonviolence.” I think I’ll conclude my prayer with a spiritual about the Light. It’s one I’m sure you know: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
All around the world, I’m gonna let it shine All around the world, I’m gonna let it shine All around the world, I’m gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
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Islamic Society of Frederick Sundus Waqar, representing
God of all creation! O Almighty God of salvation! O Living God of justice and compassion!
We call upon Your Holy name to bless this nation of ours and all the nations of the world. We humbly ask that you instill in us the love of you and of your creation.
With sincere tears we ask that You inspire our leaders with the ability to love for your sake, to humble themselves before your glory and to become a voice of truth and justice.
God, reform our hearts so that we may become a true image of your divine mercy. God, renew our tongues, so that we may speak the truth and nothing but the truth.
God, restore our faith in you so that we may become once and again agents of goodness and peace. God, repair our souls, so that we may echo the voice of reason and sanity in our nations and all the nations of the world.
God, for the sake of those children dying out of pain, for the sake of the mothers crying out of despair, and for the sake of the earth suffering out of destruction, make this a new year with a new leadership fully committed to humanity, and to the earth.,
God, we ask for a new season of hope, optimism and peace. God, we pray for a new generation committed to tranquility around the world. God, we pray for a new path of reconciliation between all races and all orientations. God, make this season one that inspires us to turn to love those fears, to break the swords of war, to put off the fires of hate and to march together in the gardens of harmony and freedom.
We praise you G God! Ever living… Ever giving … Ever Loving… Ever Kind… Ever Holy…
The dominion is yours for ever and ever….
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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick Laura Powell, representing
Let Us Learn Peace by L. Annie Foerster
Peace is more than the absence of worry. It is the creation of safe havens for all; It is the building of security for everyone; It is the forgiveness of self, as well as one who would harm you
Let us seek contentment; let us learn peace.
Peace is more than the absence of discordance. It is the intent listening to diverse points of view; It is the intentional speaking of all voices, one at a time; It is the tension within silence that welcomes all thoughts.
Let us seek harmony; let us learn peace.
Peace is more than the absence of tension. It is studying the hard lesson of letting go; It is breathing through pain into tranquility; It is forming friendship out of enmity.
Let us seek serenity; let us learn peace.
Peace is much more than the absence of war It is observing the promised truce when anger would say ‘no’: It is finding the just compromise when the ego would say ‘my way’; It is striving for reconciliation when the heart would say ‘revenge.’
Let us seek amity for all the earth; let us learn peace.
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The Wishing Tree of Peace Teresa Ismach, explaining
At our first planning meeting this year for the Season for Nonviolence, someone had the idea that we should have a “Wishing Tree” similar to Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree in Washington DC and other wishing trees around the world.
Our Wishing Tree is special…it is a Wishing Tree for Peace.
A wish…is a desire, a hope, a request, a wing and a prayer.
Our tree is a collective prayer for peace.
After a mental thought comes volition – the desire
to make it happen. After volition comes action. “Volition and Action
are necessary before International Peace can be established…and truly
the time and conditions are ripe for action now.”
Abdul-Baha, son of Baha’u’llah and perfect Exemplar of the Baha’i Faith, once stated:
Prayer is like the spirit and material means are like the human hand. The spirit operateth through the instrumentality of the hand. Although the one True God is the All-Provider, it is the earth which is the means to supply sustenance…. When man refuseth to use material means, he is like a thirsty one who seeketh to quench his thirst through means other than water or liquids. The Almighty Lord is the provider of water, and its
maker, and hath decreed that it be
Our tree is not only a symbol of hope, a collective prayer, a wish for peace, but also a symbol of working together to create our desired outcome. It is the first step toward action.
We invite everyone to hang their wishes for peace on our tree at this time or at a later time. Our tree will stay here throughout the Season for Nonviolence. You are welcome to make more than one wish.
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First Church of Christ, Scientist Kersa Hoffman, representing
The Peace
Practice Kesra Hoffman
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