United Nations Day of Peace

The Independence Peace Vigil was held on the annual United Nations Day of Peace in September at the United Nations Peace Plaza at Walnut and Lexington, west of the Community of Christ Temple.

Twelve guest speakers brought messages of hope throughout the 12-hour vigil. Speakers included Jay Sjerven, United Nations Kansas City Chapter president; Jim Everett, United Nations Kansas City Chapter board member; Dr. Shaheen Ahmed, Crescent Peace Society; Ira Harritt, American Friends Service; Andrew Bolton, Community of Christ; Sharon Hannah, Community Mediation Center; Jim Hannah, Habitat for Humanity; Lewis Diuguid, the Kansas City Star vice president; David Mason, Community of Christ Network Advocating Justice and Peace (CCNAJP); Bob Lewis, CCNAJP; and Pat Weary, Community Services League. The Reverend Pat Miller, Independence Ministerial Alliance president, closed the vigil with a sending forth and benediction.
Early in the morning, volunteers set up the exhibits “Eyes Wide Open” and “The Cost of War,” on loan from the American Friends. These exhibits were placed in the small park, with peace candles encircling the world fountain in the UN Peace Plaza. One candle was lit hourly as a symbol of peace followed by a prayer for peace by various individuals. The Daily Prayer for Peace at 1:00 p.m. was led at the Peace Plaza by Anne and Wallace Smith, and international members of the church lit their own candles for peace. Just as building peace in our world is a challenge, a slight breeze made lighting the candles a challenge.

The vigil included peacemakers from Community of Christ and other faiths, with about 300 visitors throughout the day. Prayers were offered and music included bells, guitars, flutes, trumpet, and voices singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” the theme song for the United Nations.

It was a time for sharing our vision for building peace. Each participant shared why peace is meaningful and how we can learn to bring peace into our world.

—Nadine Stallbaumer reporting