May Peace Prevail On Earth News

May 7th, 2012

Hatha Yoga is offered at The World Peace Sanctuary on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m.

Class began on Monday, May 7th, 2012.

Ann Marie Robustelli, WPPS Executive Assistant, welcomed everyone with a brief explanation regarding the mission of The World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS).

The Universal Peace Message and Prayer, “May Peace Prevail On Earth” is the opening statement for each session.

These lovely women are from the surrounding areas: Wingdale, Dover Plains, Amenia and Wassaic, New York. Maria Polhemus, Yoga Instructor (1st on R).

Earth Day- ( April 22nd) The World Peace Sanctuary-USA

Staff at The World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of The World Peace Prayer Society held a World Peace Prayer Ceremony in honor of Earth Day, on the lovely Peace Path lined with Peace Poles representing UN member states. Heartfelt Prayers of Gratitude were offered to Mother Earth as each nation was announced, closing with “May Peace Prevail On Earth!”

Fumi Johns-Stewart, Ann Marie Robustelli, Jules Lamore and Jim Dugan

September 25th, 2010

A Call To Peace in honor of the International Day of Peace (IDP),
is an annual peace gathering held at The World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of The World Peace Prayer Society and home of The Peace Pole Project.

September 21st marks the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, designated by resolution in 1982 for the purpose of highlighting efforts to end conflict, cease fire and promote peace.

Native American Prayers

We felt that this year is a particularly important year to recognize the absolute necessity of everyday peace work in our lives. The emphasis reflected in A Call To Peace 2010 theme, in relationship to IDP, with offering 4 Peace Poles, handcrafted at The World Peace Sanctuary designated for Afghanistan. Attendees were invited to submit written prayers for the people of Afghanistan. The prayers were sent along with the Peace Poles that will be dedicated in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Prayers for Afghanistan with Mr. Royesh from Marefat School, Afghanistan

The day in its entirety was truly a magnificent! Mother Nature blessed us with a perfect summer-like day as did the 74 plus youth who participated in our Program, such as the Nepalese dancers and young Chinese singers, the local Hudson Valley Girl Scouts and Peace Pals group from Connecticut!

Each year, our gathering is held under the canopy of a century-old Walnut Grove, where people join in prayer ceremony for the indigenous peoples of The United States of America. More than 200 Native American Nations were honored as each tribal name was announced and blessed by the attendees, praying May Peace Prevail On Earth for the ancestors of USA, followed with prayers for the 50 USA states and its territories.

Prayers for the 50 U.S. States

The Finale, a beautifully orchestrated World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremony, in which flag bearers carried a national flag representing the 195 countries of the world, as participants proudly proclaimed May Peace Prevail On Earth for the people and land in each country.

Prayers for the World

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
This year marks the 13th Annual Peace Pals International Art and Award Ceremony. Names of the winners in each of the 4 categories were announced. All artwork submissions were beautifully displayed on panels for all to enjoy.

To view the winning entries, please visit: www.wppspeacepals.org.

Guest Speakers:

Aziz Royes from Marefat High School, Kabul, Afghanistan

Gloria Waslyn, with her Peace Parrots: Merlin, Baby and Peace-nik

Pushkar Shah from Nepal -Who traveled around the world, then riding a bicycle in 143 countries to spread the message, May Peace Prevail On Earth.

Ananta Risal, Friends of Nepal

The Program was complete with entertainment:

Special songs and peace message from the Chinese-American children

Peace songs and music, provided by Chris Farrell, Aliza Hava, Caitlin Keeler, Cecelia St. King and Nathan Mandracchia

Demonstration of traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony

Peace Pals Presentation from Black Rock School and Longfellow School in Connecticut

Nepalese Drums & Dance, Japanese dance and Hawaiian dance

The activities for Children and Adults, included:
Tea Ceremony
Beading, Piece by Peace, Origami Peace Cranes, Face Painting, Pinwheels for Peace
Display of Onagadori Exotic Chickens from Japan

The grove area was sprinkled with a variety of non-profit organizations and its members who came to share their work and contribution toward Peace and Harmony for All Life on Earth.

The Finale also included the release of the beautiful Monarch Butterflies by Pat du Plessis, from Rainbow’s End Butterfly Farm.

It was a very sacred ceremony and symbolic to our existence, enveloping humanity, nature and mother earth in the process of metamorphosis, reminding us that transformation is possible, as is manifesting the Universal Prayer and Message,
May Peace Prevail On Earth!

Ann Marie Robustelli
The World Peace Prayer Society, Headquarters
Wassaic, New York-USA

February-2010

The wildlife are blessed and protected at The World Peace Sanctuary. Here is one species that visits daily!  DEER!!  

  Infinite Gratitude to the Animal Kingdom!  May Peace Prevail On Earth!

February 7^th, 2009

A few months later on February 7th, Reverend Epperson invited Fumi to speak at a Sunday Service at the Presbyterian Church in Amenia.  The service started with a Worship Thought quote read by the Reverend:

“When we see everyone is a part of us, any criticism we make is self-criticism, we will extend to ourselves an unconditional love that will light the world.” (Harry Palmer)

The quote set the tone for the service which was focused on the theme of PEACE.  

After introductions by Reverend Epperson, Fumi spoke briefly about the history of WPPS and lead everyone in The World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremony.  Prayers for peace to prevail were sent to each country and region on Earth.  The congregation opened their hearts and focused their prayers with grace and reverence.  

A sense of peace and calm pervaded the hall of worship when the service closed with the song, Let There Be Peace On Earth.

November 30^th, 2009

Jim Dugan from The World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of The World Peace Prayer Society joined approximately 1200 people from New York City and around the world for The World March for Peace and Nonviolence, http://www.theworldmarch.org/

  The 25 member World March “base team” arrived from Senegal that morning to lead the marchers from Brooklyn Borough Hall, through the wind and rain over the Brooklyn Bridge to New York City Hall for a press conference to start the North American leg of this 90 day, 6 continent journey.

  The basic tenant of the march is the abolition of nuclear weapons; withdrawal of invading troops from occupied territories; the progressive and proportional reduction of conventional weapons; the signing of non-aggression treaties among nations and the renunciation by governments of war as a way to resolve conflicts.

September 19^th, 2009

A Call To Peace is an annual gathering held at The World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of The World Peace Prayer Society and home of the Peace Pole Project and Peace Pals International.

Each year, for the past 20 years, staff at The World Peace Sanctuary invites the community to gather for A Call To Peace. This year, it was held on Saturday, September 19^th in honor of the International Day of Peace.

September 21^st marks the Unitized Nations’ International Day of Peace, designated by resolution in 1982 for the purpose of highlighting efforts to end conflict, cease fire- and promote peace.

The annual event attracts people from all over the country a well as citizens from other countries to evoke the positive and to focus intentions on the message and prayer, May Peace Prevail On Earth.

The sound of bells (rung by Doug and Martha Martin of the Martin Peace Bell Foundation) echoed throughout the Sacred Grove as people were arriving.

A Call To Peace was held under the canopy of a century-old Walnut Grove, where people joined in ceremonial prayer for peace to prevail for the indigenous peoples of The United States of America. More than 200 Native American Nations were honored as each tribal name was announced and blessed by the attendees, praying May Peace Prevail On Earth for the ancestors of USA.

Following, were prayers for the 50 states and territories of The United States of America.

Co-celebrants from the various faith traditions added their prayers for peace.

The Program ended with the World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremony. Flag bearers carried a national flag representing each of the 195 countries throughout the world as everyone announced the prayer, May Peace Prevail On Earth for the people and land in every country to include all the other regions in the WORLD!

The day was filled with an eclectic style of music and performances: the Byakko Choir from Japan, Peace is Possible Chorus from Connecticut, Japanese dancers from NYC, Flute player and Native American and Japanese drumming.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

This year marks the 12 Annual Peace Pals International Art and Award Ceremony.  Names of the winners in each of the 4 categories were announced.  All artwork submissions were  beautifully displayed on panels for all to enjoy.  To view the winning entries, please visit: www.wppspeacepals.org

The activities for Children and Adults, included:

Japanese Calligraphy and Tea Ceremony, Crafts: Beading, Piece by Peace, Origami Peace Cranes, Chess for Peace, Petty Zoo and a Native American culture area with tee-pee, storytelling and drum ritual.

The grove area was sprinkled with a variety of non-profit organizations and its members who came to share their work and contribution toward Peace and Harmony for All Life on Earth.

August 13-16^th, 2009

Wassaic, New York is the home of The World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of The World Peace Prayer Society.  The founders of the Wassaic Project and the coordinators of The South Amenia Fair, decided to have the two events occurring on the same weekend, highlighting the Hamlet of Wassaic in The New York Times. A Peace Pole, handcrafted at The World Peace Sanctuary was also featured at the Wassaic Project.

The Wassaic Project’s founders, Eve Biddle, Elan Bogarin and Bowie Zunino, are all 27-year-old artists and friends who were raised in the East Village in New York City. Together, they organized the 4 day event, featuring 75 artists, several film screenings and readings, and 25 bands, including an ‘open-air funk opera.’  The event was held in the newly renovated building, historically recognized as the original Borden Milk Factory.

In the nearby auction ring, where art films are now screened, hand-painted signs still announce the commissions for various livestock (cattle and calves, 5 percent; hogs, goats and sheep, 10 percent).  Nestled in the Harlem Valley, this charming and historical village houses a post office, an old time tavern and general store. The stillness outside is punctuated only by the occasional sound of the Metro North train, which runs every two hours to and from NYC.

August 14-16^th, 2009

The South Amenia Fair is a revival of an event held annually from 1920 to 1942, brought back in honor of the community’s 250th Anniversary.  Amenia is the township of Wassaic, New York, where The World Peace Sanctuary is located.   A Peace Pole, bearing peace messages, May Peace Prevail in the United States and May Peace Prevail On Earth, welcomed guests over the three-day event. The Program was complete with activities and presentations that took place over 80 years ago:  arts and crafts, flower and animal shows, mule and draft-oxen demonstrations and bingo. On Sunday, they held an old-time tent worship service, followed by a chicken barbecue at noon and a dog show.

July 26^th, 2009

Every year, the GATHERING OF THE VIBES, held at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut provides a forum for acclaimed musicians and artists to share their crafts.  It brings together the VibeTribe-the exceptional group of individuals whose very essence is defined by their shared sense of community.   Each year, this  four day event begins on Thursday and ends with The World Peace Prayer Society presenting the World Peace Flag Ceremony on Sunday to at least 15,000 people!

This year, Jim Dugan and Ann Marie Williams, presented the World Peace Flag Ceremony on the Main Stage.  Jim and Ann Marie alternated announcing the name of each of the 192 countries in alphabetical order, as the crowd  repeated the country names, while waiving their flags, cheering and reciting May Peace Prevail On Earth throughout the Ceremony!