MVPJ Reflections after this year's 9/11 Multifaith Peace Picnic and Prayers

Over the past 10 years, Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice (MVPJ) has been honored to partner with American Muslim Voice Foundation (AMV) and a multitude of varied other congregations, communities and organizations in sponsoring the annual 9/11 Multifaith Peace Picnic and Prayers. Our goals for this event, which are very much aligned with American Muslim Voice Foundation and all the other cosponsors, are to bring people together, share a meal, build new friendships, join in prayers for peace, and strengthen peace in our local community and our world. As AMV's motto says, "to move from fear to friendship."

Yet we live in deeply troubled times. This year the work of building peace is perhaps more challenging than ever. Sadly, just a day before the event, issues emerged that caused some organizations to withdraw their support of and participation in the 9/11 event. Without time to talk and work together on those issues, there has been hurt that needs attention and healing.

Nevertheless, the gathering on 9/11 this year was beautiful, with prayers, poems, words and songs for peace, laughter and hugs, food shared and community strengthened. We are deeply grateful for all who were there! We are sad that some felt they could not attend. We missed their presence. We respect that each made their own decision, and will work for better understanding as we move forward. Whether particular organizations cosponsored this event or not, we know we need one another to build the beloved community, and we pledge our solidarity to work together, as people and communities of diverse faiths, for peace and dignity, through good times and bad.

MVPJ’s commitment, along with AMV Foundation, is to peace and justice - even when it is hard. Peace when we all agree is beautiful. Peace when we differ, when we hurt, when we are scared, is hard. But we are called, from the foundational teachings of our own diverse faiths and traditions, to do this work. We pray that you will join us, along with others, to reclaim our common humanity and take the path of peace.

To view some photos from this year's event on our webpage, click here (or just scroll down!)