CHURCH TO PLANT PEACE POLE.Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer PEARBLOSSOM - Easing the tensions brought on by the war, politics and the stress of modern life is the motivation for planting a peace pole A Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth,” usually in a different language on each site. The message is referred to as a peace prayer. on Wednesday at Pearblossom Community United Methodist Church United Methodist Church, in the United States, religious body formed by the union in 1968 of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church (see Methodism). . ``The goal of every person should be peace in their life and peace around them,'' said the Rev. Don Austin, the church's pastor for six years. ``The peace pole is a small way to remind people of how to live their life. Peace begins with us and then spreads from there. Anything a church can do to promote peace is an asset.'' The congregation will install an 8-foot-tall, natural-wood pole in front of the church. The phrase ``May Peace Prevail on Earth'' will be inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. on it in English, Spanish, Aramaic and Navajo. English is the language of the congregation. Spanish was chosen because a Spanish-language Christian congregation shares the church facility. Aramaic was chosen because, Austin said, ``it was the language of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.'' Navajo was the language used by ``code-talkers'' during World War II by Marines relaying information about the enemy's position in the Pacific theater Pacific Theater or Pacific Theatre may refer to
``Through that language it helped to bring about the peace of that war,'' said the Rev. Ilse Peetze, a church member who formerly led two Methodist churches in Hawaii. The Peace Pole Project began with an idea by Japanese poet and philosopher Misahisa Goi after World War II. He wrote a poem called ``May Peace Prevail on Earth.'' It was his hope that people would recite and meditate med·i·tate v. med·i·tat·ed, med·i·tat·ing, med·i·tates v.tr. 1. To reflect on; contemplate. 2. To plan in the mind; intend: meditated a visit to her daughter. on those words and their prayer would bring about world peace. The first peace pole was planted in Japan in 1955; there are now more than 250,000 poles in more than 180 countries. They have been planted in front of city halls, schools, houses of worship, in parks and on private residences. ``Peace is a gift from God to people. Through prayer we can discover how to achieve that,'' Peetze said. ``We believe that you can find inner peace through God's work in Christ. If you have peace yourself you are not fearful of others. There's a certain atmosphere that you create when you have inner peace. You can then meet people where they are spiritually and be more open to people.'' The church, 10 miles east of Palmdale and 40 miles northeast of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. on the route to Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. , is no stranger to promoting peace in the wider High Desert community in the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . The congregation has hosted a number of peace vigils Vigils is a term for night prayer in ancient Christianity. See Vespers, Compline, Nocturns, Matins, and Lauds for more information. A Vigil is a night spent in prayer, and a Vigil Mass is a Roman Catholic Mass that is liturgically for a Sunday or Holy Day but which takes place the over the past two years. ``Peace comes about when we open ourselves to God and receive what God might want to put in our hearts,'' said Peetze. ``We have to yield ourselves to what God wants. It's a journey - step by step - to work for peace.'' The Peace Pole dedication will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pearblossom Community United Methodist Church, corner of Highway 138 and 126th Street East, Pearblossom. A prayer vigil, coinciding with World Community Day, will be held from noon to midnight Friday. Call (661) 944-4324. Holly Andres, (818) 713-3708 holly.andres(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Rev. Don Austin of Pearblossom Community United Methodist Church stands with the peace pole that will be installed on the church grounds Wednesday. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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