2005 Spirit & Place Festival
INTERFAITH PEACE - PRAYER SERVICE
CARMELITE MONASTERY
November 15, 2005
A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR
THE VICTIMS OF RECENT DISASTERS
Lord, we cannot possibly fathom the depth of anguish
and sorrow of the victims and survivors over the loss
of lives and the unimagined devastation and disruption
caused by the cataclysmic Asian Tsunami, the powerful
Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast, and the recent
South Asian Earthquake in the Indian Subcontinent,
Lord, we pray for Your guidance to bless us a spirit
of understanding, express our heartfelt concern and
extend our generous support, and pave a pathway of
prayer that stretches from our safe sanctuaries of
warmth and abundance to their world of emptiness,
uncertainty, and basic survival.
In reaching with our hearts and spirit, may we, in
Your Name, O Lord, rekindle hope and reassurance to
all those whose lives have been, and are being tried
by unconscionable conflicts, natural disasters, and
deprivations of the essentials for life and human
dignity
That they are not alone, nor forgotten
That in spirit, we are beside them.
We know their struggle, and their winter,
We are with them in solidarity, and in friendship.
We are hoping, praying, and petitioning to the Lord
That beyond the unimagined nightmare,
Shaken faith and darkness of the moment,
That there may be Light, a new dawn, hopeful tomorrows
Waiting for each one of us,
Reminding us to share our time and gifts
To honor Life in all its colorful splendor and challenges,
Nurture and extend its beautiful promise.
May each of us be led forward and embrace:
Our diverse family of faiths and cultures
As an act of our shared humanity,
Live our faith in service and uplifting of others,
Be humble instruments of peace that we all cherish,
As our offering to the One Universal Father and Mother
of all Creation.
Kanwal Prakash "KP" Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
www.KPSinghDesigns.com
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STAYING
AT THE HEART OF BELIEF,
MOVING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER IN OPENNESS
INTERFAITH PEACE-PRAYER SERVICE
November 15, 2005
Carmelite Monastery, Indianapolis, Indiana USA
To arrive at the peace and unity we seek, we must
join hands, hearts, and witness and celebrate each
faith as a part of God's ever-expanding, all-embracing
"Circle of Light:"
Together explore our shared sacred space where there
are no strangers; no prejudice or intolerance of our
distinct faiths, cultures, ethnicity, or heritage;
For,
In God's Kingdom, there is none.
SIKH HYMN: Chatur Disha Kino Balu Apna Sir Upari
Karu Dhariyo
"The Lord has manifested His Might in all four
directions,
He has placed His Hand over our head.
Beholding me with His glance of Mercy and Grace
The Lord has dispelled the suffering of His servant.
The Divine Guru, the Lord of the Universe, always
saves His servants.
Clasping them in His close and loving embrace
The Compassionate and Forgiving Lord has erased all
their sins. (Pause)
Whatever blessings I ask from my Lord and Master,
He grants unto His servant.
Whatever Nanak, the Lord's servant, utters
Is fulfilled and blessed in this world and in the
next."
Source:
Guru Granth Sahib (sacred Sikh scriptures)
Contribution: Guru Arjan Dev - Fifth Sikh Guru
Musical Pattern : Raag Dhansari
Page : 681-682
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Event Report
The Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis participated
along with members of
Jewish, Catholic, Baptist, Hindu, Moselm, Bahai, Jain
and Buddhist (Taiwanese) faiths in the 23rd Annual
Peace-Prayer Service and 14th Annual Interfaith Service
at The Carmelite Monastery, Indianapolis, Indiana.
The message of unity and peace and dignity of each
faith reverbrated throughout the evening.
Marian College Chamber singers sung beautiful renditions
of "The Peace
of the Earth" and Sandy Adland of The Indianapolis
Hebrew Congregation
presented a moving rendition of "How Many Roads
Must a Man Walk Down."
Giani Pritam Singh and members of the Sikh Satsang
of Indianapolis
offered the Sikh Hymn " Chatur Disha Kino Balu
Apna..." (attached) and KP Singh offered a special
prayer for the victims of recent disasters (attached).
This year,The Interfaith Peace-Prayer Service coincided
with the sacred Gurupurab (birthday) of Guru Nanak
Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith, who stood for
dignity and equality of all people and the sanctity
of all faiths and spiritual traditions. Throughout
the evening, there was a spirit of great respect and
understanding among the presenters and participants.
For further information, contact KP Singh, Maninder
Walia
(cmlighthouse@aol.com).
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