May Peace Prevail on Earth

This Sunday morning, at 8 o’clock in the morning, we will be dedicating a peace pole in front of our church building which has been hand-made and “planted” by members of our congregation under the leadership of Ed Fox. The dedication will be part of a solemn commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the events of 9/11 and a prayer for world peace, sponsored by Bethel’s Mission Outreach Committee.

Some among you may have seen peace poles in other places around our country or around the world, while others among us may be unfamiliar with peace poles. I, therefore, find it fitting to provide a bit more background information on this project, taken from the website of the World Peace Prayer Society.

The Peace Pole Project is the official project of the World Peace Prayer Society. It started in Japan in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, who decided to dedicate his life to spreading the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in response to the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Peace poles are handcrafted monuments erected the world over as international symbols of peace. Their purpose is to spread the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the languages of the world.

Mr. Goi believed that peace begins in the heart and mind of each individual. As war begins with thoughts of war, peace begins with thoughts of peace. The peace pole reminds us to keep peace ever-present in our thoughts. As we learn to honor one another, our environment, plants, animals and all creation on earth, the vision of global peace will gradually become a natural way of life, a true culture of peace.

Peace Poles can be found in town squares, city halls, schools, places of worship, parks, and gardens - any place where the spirit of Peace is embraced by people of good will. Since the beginning of the project over 200,000 Peace Poles have been planted in over 200 countries around the world.

Some of the extraordinary locations include the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the magnetic north pole in Canada, Gorky Park in Russia, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. They are promoting healing of conflict in places like Sarajevo, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, and the Allenby Bridge on the border between Israel and Jordan.

Mayors in many parts of the world have planted peace poles to dedicate their cities and towns to world peace. Both political leaders, such as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and religious leaders, such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and the Dalia Lama, have dedicated Peace Poles.

I cordially invite you to arrive a bit earlier than usual at church this Sunday and join the Mission Outreach Committee in commemorating the tragic events of September 11 2001, to quiet our hearts and pray for world peace, and to dedicate the our peace pole. This will be a much needed opportunity for our congregation to lift up in prayer the victims on the terrorist attacks and the heroes who came to their aid during and in the aftermath of the attacks. The peace pole will remind us to work for peace, respect, and understanding in the name of the God who has granted us forgiveness and called us into a ministry of service and healing.

May peace prevail on earth!