Hope UMC Dedicates Peace Pole
During a recent lock-in Hope Wednesday Kids focused on the theme "Love God's Earth & Love God's People." As part of loving God's People Wednesday Kids gathered around their peace pole project during the evening campfire and heard the story of two brothers who could not get along. Their sibling rivalry finally escalated until one tried to shoot the other. Their Mom stepped in the middle and as she lay bleeding finally both understood their fighting was killing their mother. The peace pole was created to be a visible reminder that God loves all God's children and any time we fight we not only hurt God but one another. In fact the first murder in the Old Testament (Cain killing Abel) is predicated by an argument over worship.
Sunday July 16th Hope United Methodist Church dedicated its Peace Pole. The words "May Peace Prevail" appear on English on the pole. Throughout the next year it is Hope's goal to have people from various cultures within our congregation and within the community write their languages word for "Peace" on the pole. Within Hope's congregation are people with a variety of backgrounds: Cambodian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese American, Jewish, as well a myriad of European roots. Plus, a Spanish-speaking congregation meets within Hope's building. Within the community we hope to find Somolian, Sudanese and other cultures who will join Hope Church in hoping and praying for peace for all God's children.
A bench will be placed where people can pause for a moment to offer their prayers and to remember the God who created all people. The Sunday Peace Pole dedication ended an image of the pole on screen, the wind rustling through the trees, and the Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi on screen as well. The prayer's first line, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;" All are welcome to meditate at pray at the peace pole. If you wish to add your culture's word for peace, contact Pastor Roger Grafenstein, 334-5849. Hope UMC is located at 3166 197th Street E., Faribault 1/3 mile east of St. Paul Avenue on Co. Rd. 25.
Roger Grafenstein
Hope Church Pastor
PEACE POLE PROGRESS
The Korean word for peace is being written on the Peace Pole by Korean-American Bruce Voelker, Helen Koch's grandson, who will be attending the U of M Mankato
this fall.
Hope is inviting people from various cultural traditions to honor their traditions and
"sign on" to the possibility and promise of peace.
What is a Peace Pole? "A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message "May Peace Prevail" on each side in different languages. There are more than 200,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries dedicated as monuments to peace. The serve as constant reminders to visualize and pray for world peace. Planting a peace pole is a way to bring people together on an inspiring, project, a way to create a garden space with meaning.
Peace poles are planted at the Pyramids of El Giza, the magnetic North Pole in Canada, Sarayevo, and the Allenby Bridge between Israel and Jordan. President Jimmy Carter, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama have all dedicated peace poles.
Cathryn Hankla writes, "Peaceful is not something we are, that we decided once, or something we do, that is the only route. Like forgiveness, peace is a practice. Moment to moment, it's how we choose to be: when the grill won't start, when the dog keeps barking, when the check bounces, when the train is late, when we are angry and searching for someone to blame."
Welcome to the journey toward peace.
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