Peace Pole Dedication Focuses on Uniting Community in Search for Peace

First Congregational Church members, together with members of the Islamic Center of Topeka, will gather Saturday, Oct. 27, at 10 a.m. to dedicate a new peace pole at 1701 SW Collins. These wooden structures say "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in different languages, and are a project of the World Peace Organization.

First Congregational members, particularly the Youth Group, last year decided to work with the Islamic Center to increase cultural and religious understanding. The confirmation class inspired First Congregational's members to explore joining with the Islamic Center in supporting two children to attend a school for Muslims and Christians in East Jerusalem.

This successful project brought wonderful interfaith opportunities to First Congregational and the Islamic Center. As an extension of their work together, the Peace Pole project was born. For more information about peace poles – and members at First Congregational hope to see many created throughout the city – visit the World Peace Organization's website at www.worldpeace.org/peacepoles.html.

According to that website, planting a Peace Pole is a way to bring people together on an inspiring project to join in a network of peace consciousness that is emerging all over the world. When you plant a Peace Pole in your community, you are linking with people all over the world who have planted their Poles in the same spirit of peace. Every Peace Pole proclaims the prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth in the language of the country and often several other languages as well.

The Peace Pole at First Congregational features 12 languages. This non-denominational project simply wishes to bring about a focus on peace. At Saturday's short ceremony, Rev. Tobias Schlingensiepen will speak about peace poles; Christian singer Patti Abbott will sing a song about peace; Bill Beachy, executive director of the Topeka Center for Peace & Justice, will speak about peace; and Imam Omar Hazim will offer a closing prayer.

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