Seattle, United States—On January 17, 2015, the Ambassadors for Peace Association Washington State held its first Unity Prayer Meeting in Jose Rizal Park, Seattle.
The meeting was inspired by local staff. Twenty-six Ambassadors for Peace and others gathered together to share words of inspiration and pray for local families and communities. Those attending were from diverse ethnic backgrounds and various faith communities, including Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Unificationist.
Rev. Nelson Mira opened the meeting with a prayer. Later, three prayers were offered: the first by Mr. Rizwan Samad of the Islamic faith, then by Mrs. Othella Jones of the Buddhist faith, and finally by Mrs. Sarah Nishioka of the Unificationist faith. Next, everyone offered individual prayers. A closing prayer by Mrs. Emma Herron and a singing of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” then followed.
Prayers were offered asking God, the Creator, for guidance in working for and bringing about greater peace and harmony through active reconciliation, based on the words shared from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, co-founder with Mrs. Moon of UPF. Participants read together a page from Dr. King’s sermon on “Loving Your Enemies" and read the beginning of “The Ultimate Purpose of Twenty-first-Century Religion,” a chapter in Rev. Moon’s autobiography, “A Peace-Loving Global Citizen.” The Ambassadors of Peace plan to hold a prayer meeting quarterly.