Becky's Article 9/5/10

Here is a link to the first story of Peace Season~ Becky, you did a beautiful job!

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/sep/03/no-headline---peaceprayers/

2010 Season of Peace Events

In addition to the 12-day prayer vigil, here are the events offered during this year's Season of Peace:

• Sept. 9, 7 p.m.  at Unity Church: Interfaith opening prayer service.

• Sept. 11, 9 a.m. at the 911 Memorial:  An inter faith 9/11 Memorial program.

•   Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. at the San Angelo Convention Center: The Gathering is presenting the film "One Peace at a Time" by Turk Pipkin.
•  Sept. 19, 12:30 p.m. at Unity Church: Musical program with Dwaine Briggs singing uplifting and inspiring songs of peace.  
•  Sept. 21 at 6:30 at ASU Davidson Ballroom: A presentation hosted by ASU featuring Dr. Helen Rose Ebaugh, Professor of World Religions from the University of Houston.  She will be speaking about the importance of inter faith dialogues and will also be focusing on the myths behind Islam and what we hear in the media.

2010 Season of Peace begins with a prayer vigil

This year's event is titled "Season of Peace." Previously the "11 Days of Peace," we had to change the name so we can add an extra day! 

Although the name is different, the goal is the same. For the third year, we will help bring our community together offering interfaith dialogues, prayer services, and educational programs, which break down the walls separating us from each other.

This year, we are adding a 24 hour, 12-day prayer vigil to our event. Churches and other groups throughout our community will have an opportunity to pray for inner peace, which will manifest peace out into our community and the world. 

The vigil will begin at 8 a.m. on September 9^th and continue until midnight on September 21, 2010.  We are asking churches, groups and organizations to make a time commitment to sit in prayer, meditation and contemplation for peace: peace within ourselves, our community and our world and to be open to heal the wounds which separate us from our friends, our families, and our enemies.

If you are interested in helping with the prayer vigil, please e-mail Becky Benes-  onenessoflife@verizon.net. 

11 Days of Global Peace Closing

The 2009 11 Days of Global Peace Closing Celebration at the ASU Catholic Newman Center seemed to be the crowning event as celebrants from six different faith traditions lit their own candles from the One Source Light while each said a prayer for peace. Then the candles of the many others gathered were lit from the diverse candles as Peace Ambassador Becky Benes observed no one candle was diminished while lighting the candle of another. The rest of the evening was filled with symbol, song, and a success story.

As their own Reaching Out project, the Peace Ambassadors launched the San Angelo Pennies for Peace campaign setting a goal of $12,000 - enough to build a school for girls and boys in Afghanistan. Becky announced that through the collection of pennies and dollars, the goal was exceeded! The beautiful Pennies for Peace collection cans, created by Friend of Peace Jennifer Shawker, Unikids, and Ft. Concho kids, are still out, and donations are still being accepted by the Peace Ambassadors.

Pictured left to right, front row - Samuel Green, Baha'i; Teresa Rylander, Taoist; Ara Rahman, Muslim Peace Ambassador; Rev. Janie Kelley, Christian Peace Ambassador; Rashda Khan, Muslim Peace Ambassador, and Shailu Joshi, Hindu. Back Row - Becky Benes, Christian Peace Ambassador and Deborah Michalewicz, 11 Days of Global Peace Coordinator. Not pictured - Ami Mizell-Flint, Jewish Peace Ambassador.

Grammy nominated Cynthia Jordan

Cynthia Jordan, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, also opened and closed the 11 Days of Global Peace for the Peace Ambassadors with many of her original creations, some of which were heard for the first time at the life-changing and San Angelo-changing Lady in Blue Celebration and are memorialized on Cynthia's LADY IN BLUE compact disc.

Listen to the Wise Ones - Larry M. Ward

Singer/Songwriter Larry M. Ward both opened and closed the 11 Days of Global Peace with his Listen to the Wise Ones. Lyrics are presented here with gracious and generous permission from Mr. Ward.

Martin shared his dream with us of Universal Love.
No prejudice, no violence . . . just guidance from above.
He believed we'd get there; he prayed we'd understand.
From on that mountain top, Martin saw our Promised Land.

Gandhi found his path to walk, a way to make a stand.
He fought against injustice, yet never raised a hand.
Dalai Lama lost his country, watched his people fight and die,
Yet he spreads the word of peace each moment of his life.

(Chorus)
We must listen to the Wise Ones...we must listen with our hearts.
We must listen to the Wise Ones...their words can show us where to start.
They know the path of love; they'll guide us on our way.
We can build a brighter future, make the most of everyday
If we just listen to the Wise Ones.

Jesus brought a message of forgiveness for our hearts.
We can have a peaceful spirit if we only do our part.
For life is but a journey we must travel everyday.
Pease is not a place to be...it's peace that is the way

Chorus

Too many people see the world as it is
And in their desperation they ask why?
Instead we could be seeing all the possiblities.
We can let go of the past; we can set our spirits free.

Chorus

11 Days of Global Peace - Eid Celebration

Gambian Basiru Jallo served as Imam during the Islamic Eid Prayer Service and afterwards visited with guests, young and not-so-young, over some of the most delicious and exotic foods raved over by all those gathered as one.