December 26, 2006 > International Prayer for Peace

by Reshma Yunus

On December 31, 2006, Fremont residents will be able to join millions across the globe in a simultaneous International Prayer for Peace. The only catch is that this event is scheduled for December 31, 2006 Greenwich 12:00 noon - which means that local participants have to wake up very early to show up at 4:00 a.m!

I have participated a few times in the past and it has been well worth the sleep deprivation; my alarm usually goes off only once as I have not slept worrying that I would not get up. I stumble out into the cold December morning - half asleep - to join hearts and hands of people all over the world in a common quest for peace. It is an indescribable feeling to end the year, with all of its joys, trials, tribulations, on this note of hope.   This year marks the 27th anniversary of the International Prayer for Peace and locally is being organized by PAX Christi at St. Josephs Church on Mission Blvd. in Fremont

Event organizer Faye Butler comments, "It seems it is really difficult to get up that early, but people keep coming back. Each year, it seems really important for all of us to pray together for peace with people all over the world."

Seth-Christopher Stancliff, a resident of the South Bay, has been participating since 1986 when the event was formalized by the Planetary Commission as "The World Instant of Cooperation". "They called it that because it was the one instant that it is the same day all over the world," he says.  The first year, he was able to convince United Church of Religious Sciences across the nation to participate.   Seth-Christopher, who has written meditations for this event, says that now he makes this part of his daily routine - to meditate daily for peace.

For more information, contact Faye Butler at 510-791-8186 or just show up at 4:00 am on December 31, 2006, at St. Josephs Church, 43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont.

The following was written by Seth-Christopher for as a Global Peace Meditation

"Let the guns be silent now. Let the crying cease
Let the mourners end their mourning, Let there now be peace.
Let the hungry eat their fill. Let the builders build.
Let the restless now find rest. Let the guns be still."

International Prayer for Peace
Sunday, December 31
4 a.m.
St. Josephs Church
43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont
(510) 791-8186