On March 21, to mark the one year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion
of Iraq, and to renew our commitment to work for peace, Multifaith Voices for
Peace and Justice held a “Multifaith Call for Peace” at First Methodist
Church in Palo Alto. Read a report on this service by Ed Ehmke and Leif Erickson.
[Photo courtesy of Penny Barrett]
Report on 'A MULTIFAITH CALL FOR PEACE'
by Ed Ehmke and Leif Erickson
Photos by Eric Sabelman
Opening music was provided by the Interfaith Youth Choir and Band, “One
Voice,” directed by Karen Salveson of Grace Lutheran Church. This
was followed by calls to prayer: the Jewish shofar, an Islamic Call to prayer,
a Christian invocation, and Buddhist meditation. A rousing “Down by the
Riverside,” welcome by Rev. Doug Monroe of First United Methodist, and
opening prayer by Imam Benjamin Ahmad (Muslim) followed. All sang "Love
Can Build a Bridge," led by Rev. Isaiah Jones (Covenant Presbyterian Church,
PA) which served as prelude to a set of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian readings
that stressed the need to approach our lives and our world through love and
non-violence.
The voices of our children and youth were an essential part of the whole program.
An Interfaith Children's choir (led by Victor Floyd, music director at First
Presbyterian Church, PA) sang the moving "Dona Nobis Pacem" with flute
accompaniment. Future peacemakers gathered to hear First Congregational
Church PA, pastor, Rev. David Howell's "Story of Peace," in which
a clueless puppet, Clarence the Camel, is guided through a series of questions
on ways we can avoid war if we talk, pray, find common beliefs, and work together.
Rabbi Sheldon Lewis offered further reflections on the Torah discussion
of reconciliation among adversaries--the gradual process of turning an enemy
into a friend. The talented singers and musicians of "One Voice" returned,
leading us in a lively call to "Turn the World Around," and singing
John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
The featured speaker was Susan Galleymore (Buddhist), whose son is serving in
Iraq as a member of the Army's Special Forces. She described her interviews
and work with mothers of other American soldiers as well as her recent trip
to Iraq where she interviewed mothers of Iraqi soldiers, doctors, and hospital
workers. She urged us all to "learn as much as you can" about what
is really going on in Iraq. She offered the wise and simple words of
a friend, “Life is precious. War is stupid.” She ended with a quote
from the Dalai Lama: refuse to be distrustful. "Weapons cannot be
used for anything but to shoot. They cannot be used for musical instruments."
(For the text of Ms. Galleymore’s talk, see elsewhere on this website.
For more information about her work, go to www.motherspeak.org)
Chris Lundin (St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Parish, PA) led a moving "This Is My Song,” followed by a time of Quaker silence initiated by Eric Sabelman from Palo Alto Friends Meeting. Dr. Amy Lansky (Congregation Kol Emeth) conducted her own composition: "Sing a New Song:" Sing a new song; Sing a Prayer for Peace/Dream a new dream;Let your hatred release/Find a new way, To look at your enemy/Sing a new song, for humanity."
An offering of more than $1400 was received to send medical supplies to hospitals in Iraq through the Middle East Children’s Alliance.
Finally all lit candles and, as witnesses to peace, walked on both sides of
University Ave. in a candlelight vigil led by Rabbi Shelly Lewis of Congregation
Kol Emeth and Iman Benjamin Ahmad with Ummatel Islam of East Palo Alto.
The inspiring multifaith program included worship leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Quaker, and Buddhist traditions.