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Update on IIWP Peace Events for the International Day of Peace by Debbie Roth
Exciting News! Twelve communities around the world hosted an IIWP peace event to celebrate this year’s International Day of Peace. The Day of Peace itself is on September 21st of each year, designated by the UN in 1982 to support individuals, communities, & organizations in promoting peace. Five countries were represented, including Aruba, Australia, France, Spain, and the United States. In the United States, peacemakers offered events in eight states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, Minneapolis, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas. Communities held activities as simple as a group coming together with a focus on peace all the way to planting Light columns in the Capitol Building in Hartford Connecticut. We also had a number of communities offer IIWP’s “Finding Peace in Today’s World” workshop, a three-hour class to explore and release those things that block us from experiencing the peace that is always present. A DAY OF PEACE AT WINDERMERE RANCH At Windermere Ranch in Santa Barbara, peacemakers came together for “A Day of Peace” on Sunday, September 20th. Here’s a report on the event from our Beloved IIWP Staff Lynn Cox and Event Team Captain Kay Turbak: Everything went very smoothly for the Peace Day, and people seemed to really enjoy themselves. About 51 people attended the Peace Day overall. We started with a Peacemaker Meeting for the adults in the morning. This was followed by lunch, horse-painting and schmoozing, and some Docent-led tours, including a walk to Quelin. Here’s a quote from Kay Turbak, Facilitator of the Peacemaker Meeting: “We gathered together in the barn of Windermere Ranch. Joining peacemakers across the planet in that simple act of declaring, affirming, actualizing, visualizing, choosing and creating peace, we became One. Whatever language was on our native tongue did not matter, as we spoke the language of the heart. We blessed the land, we baptized each other, we prayed and we played. This is what it is, to be a Peacemaker.” Oh, and Robert Zack had fixed up the hay wagon, with a bedding of hay, and drove the kids around for an hour and a half in the morning while the adults were in the Peacemaker Meeting. Hats off to Robert, as the kids were having a GREAT time in the wagon. Robert stopped at the swing and gave them all swing rides, which they loved. After the Peacemaker Meeting, we did a 'horse-painting' activity in the turnout corral at the barn. With Cathy Rennick and Ivy's help, we had groups of 4 to 5 children finger painting the horses like Indian Ponies. We had about 15 kids total painting Future, Shamra and Star. The kids LOVED doing this, and the adults were having a great time, too. Star stole the show during the horse-painting - everyone, big and small, was loving on her, and commenting how beautiful she was. Star seemed mesmerized by all the attention. Linda Boston was videotaping, and Windermere’s newest staff member Ivy Wright was taking still shots, and they got some great shots. When the kids were finished painting, there were 5 or 6 MSIA Ministers near Star, and I asked them to do Prayer Communion with her, which was a very sweet 'Moment of Peace'. It was wonderful to witness the joy of the children - whether painting horses or going on the hay ride. In the mid afternoon Andrew Baille hosted a Garden Blessing, with the kids planting seeds of peace with great enthusiasm. It was a beautiful blessing to bring forward the peace present in Windermere’s growing garden area. And finally, a Garden Circle walk and a watermelon feast for all completed the day. AND HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS FROM PEACEMAKERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES….. Peace Meditation From Patricia Espinoza, SPAIN: The event started a 17:00 and at that time arrived at my home the first ministers: Esperanza, Magdalena and Luz. And the four of us with my husband and my two sons Rafael and Gabriel, initiated our sacred event. The Peace event which I’m glad to do it, is an inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The chanting and the simple and profound prayer for peace "I love you, God bless you, Peace, Be Still”, was the main magic, feeling, and action of the peacemakers. From that moment those marvelous moments of peace, I have experience precious closeness with the Traveler, full of unconditional love, peace and gratitude. The sharings were beautiful, each one asked for the light in silence and from there on everything elevated like an army of angels where we were could get near of our true self, producing in ourselves peace full of grace. Sunrise Peace Chant From Anne Naylor, FRANCE: It was raining as we left to go to the designated beach. So instead we chanted here overlooking the sea anyway. The skies were amazing, the sounds sweet. We had one new person. Five of us altogether. And the coffee and croissants were great afterwards - sitting out on the terrace watching the sky change colors and patterns! I am just a great fan of chanting because of the peace it evokes within individuals and as a group. Any celebrations such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year can be peace- chanted. Click Here for a video from the Peace Chant. IIWP’s “Finding Peace in Today’s World” Workshop From Lin Mogitz, NEW JERSEY: Thank you for the opportunity to facilitate this wonderful workshop, IIWP "Finding Peace in Today's World." We're now thinking of doing the two-and-a-half day workshop! There were 4 participants in addition to me. They were: Mike Mogitz, Lisa Arencibia, Victor Arencibia, Mohammad Mobasseri It's a wonderful, and very powerful, workshop, and I enjoyed participating in it, and the students all said they enjoyed it, and commented on the peace. IIWP’s “Finding Peace in Today’s World” Workshop From Kathy Kornblum, MINNESOTA: The event went really well. We had 14 people including 2 newcomers. The newcomers participated and said they enjoyed it a lot. One of them is now coming to our upcoming event with John Morton. We shifted things a little, but pretty much went by the script. Added, "I love you, God Bless you, Peace, be still" as another resource. One non MSIAer who has done other classes attended and has referenced using "Awareness" as a tool from the class several times since. Lots of "thank you's," and "I loved the class and got a lot out of it" calls the next day. I plan to do it annually on the 21st and suspect most folks will show up again. Planting Light Columns of Peace at the Capitol Building From Leigh Hamel, CONNECTICUT: On Saturday September 19, a petite group of ministers went to the Capitol Building in Hartford. With the variety of budget issues all states are facing (and an un-passed budget in CT), this was an amazing opportunity to bring Light forward in the building, statues, chambers and a whole lot of paperwork! We had access to all the chambers and in the photos, you can almost see the Light emanating from the Light column planted in the center of the chambers of the House of representatives, on the CT seal in the Center of the room. In both Chambers there were large books, over a foot high that contained all the proposed bills that we could to look at (and bless). Louisa Holmes planted a Light Column in the "wishing chair" in the Representatives chambers, carved out of the wood of our famous Charter Oak Tree where the early settlers hid CT's constitution. In the main entry way, Leigh Hamel planted a Light column in the center tile compass. The visit was a great success, with Light sent to the tourists with us from Hong Kong, and planted from the deepest center of the earth to the highest heavens (up the gold dome). Baruch Bashan. Peacemakers-In-Action Team From Robert McCreight, TEXAS: The Austin Peacemakers-in-Action team met a Mozart's Coffee House, located right on Lake Austin. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. We sat outside on the deck under the glorious Texas sunshine and blue skies. There were seven who attended, including 19 month-old Evangeline Blackburn. The word seemed to have gotten out to the greater Austin community. Mozart's was extremely busy that morning. The deck was filled with people of all ages and an assortment of dogs, all sizes and shapes. Several of the dogs seemed to be carrying with them special energy radiating peace. They went from table to table willingly sharing their peace with one and all. We positioned ourselves near the water. As we called in the Light, the energy surrounding us picked up. The peace radiated out from the group, touching the surrounding people, animals, and even into the Lake Austin waters to the ducks, swans, and throngs of turtles. The Peacemakers-in-Action team hung out for awhile simply enjoying the beautiful Sunday and the peace that was so present with us and surrounding us. Those who passed by us frequently shared a beaming smile of peace with us. We each set an intention for the following day, stating how we would bring the blessing of peace forward the following day into our everyday lives. I stopped by Mozart's the following morning and talked with the staff. They commented about their Sunday business and how lots of people had stopped by during the day. As I sat on the deck that Monday morning, I felt the peace from Spirit's previous day blessing so present and continuing to bless all. It's always such a gift to plan an IIWP or MSIA event and then step out of the way and let Spirit do its thing. God bless you! 238-Mile Peace Bike Ride From Stephen McGhee, COLORADO: I noticed your recent focus and intention on peace in the world. Of course, I want to do my part. This coming week I will ride 238 miles through the peace-filled mountains of South West Colorado. The ride is over four days and numerous mountain passes. The race is a fundraiser for peace. My internal focus on this ride is my devotion to the Traveler inside of me. I am devoting my first day of the ride from Durango to Ouray to my teachers John and J-R. This will be my way of pedaling for peace. You should know that IIWP’s work in the area of peace has spawned this response from me as a way to bring greater peace to myself, and those around me. I am touched and inspired by the notion of greater peace. ***** For the latest postings of community events, you can visit IIWP's Facebook group, and please feel free to join our Facebook group! Click Here (or you can simply go to Facebook and search “Institute for Individual and World Peace”. And for more info on the International Day of Peace itself, Click Here. If you or anyone you know would like more information on creating an IIWP peace event in your community, please contact Debbie Roth at 323-328-1905 or peace@iiwp.org. I love you, God bless you, Peace, Be Still. Love and Light, Debbie Roth IIWP Coordinator |
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