Dances of Universal Peace will be held on Independence Mall after the vigil this coming Sunday, June 11th. As in Sept., they will be led by Jeanne Ayesha Lauenborg, who regularly leads these simple dances at Media meeting house. The dances are done to simple songs from religious and peace traditions around the world. All movements and songs will be taught. All are welcome! Silent prayer vigil: 4 to 5 PM. Dances: 5 to 6:45 PM.
On June 18th after the vigil we will stay to discuss our vigil presence during the Republican Convention and other issues related to maintaining our witness for peace.
Dan Homan wrote the following report about our prayer vigil on Sunday, May 21, 2000:
It was Sunday afternoon when I got home from church, and it had been a busy week. At New Life Church, we’d had a week of prayer — two hours each evening. I’d been to all but one (I went to meeting at Unity in Frankford on Friday evening). I’d taken the train to Manhattan Saturday, and felt uneasy after the announcement of a fire on the tracks. Sunday morning, before going to church, I made some progress catching up on chores and was planning to see Scottish folk musician Robin Williamson that evening, but was feeling a bit guilty since there was also an outreach meeting at church that evening. So when I got home Sunday afternoon, I was tired, had a head-ache and a stiff neck, and laid down on the sofa ...
... about two and a half hours later, at about twenty of four, I woke up to a scripture being quoted on a Christian radio station. I don’t remember it clearly, and I haven’t yet been able to find it, but I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me through that scripture. It said something to the effect that we’re all entitled to all of God’s blessings in our lives, but we are expected to do as He would have us do. I had little doubt that what He would have me do was get up and go to the vigil! I felt like going back to sleep, but I thought, well, maybe this really is God, and maybe I oughta at least give Him the benefit of the doubt. Since we are called to test the spirits (“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” I John 4:1), off I went.
It was not an easy journey, but by the time I got to the vigil, my spirits were higher, and I was glad to see everyone. I was late (which is becoming regular with me — I’m not pleased about that), but I felt the vigil went well, even though I wasn’t as focused as I’d like to have been. Part of my mind was on the apparent conflict of the upcoming evening concert and the meeting at New Life Church, but it came to me to go to the meeting, after the vigil, and trust God’s leading. I still don’t know what my purpose was at the meeting (there didn’t seem to be anything essential for my presence), but I stayed until the end. Later, I got to the Tin Angel in time to see Robin’s second set, and in spite of my less than trusting and faithful approach to the day, the evening capped the day off nicely.
God provides ...
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
Independence Mall Vigil for PeacePlease join us at our weekly prayer vigils for peace in the world, held in front of the Liberty Bell on Market St. between 5th and 6th, every Sunday from 4 to 5 PM. For more information, contact cityquake@aol.com.
In our reports, participants share their experiences of the prayer vigils and explore beliefs related to their participation. Reports reflect the experience of each author and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or practice of all vigil participants. We welcome your responses, which are forwarded to the individual authors (when possible). We sometimes include part of a response in a future report, unless you ask us not to.
It is meaningful to us that you share in the vigils by reading these reports and in other ways, such as joining us in prayer.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM