Part
of the One;
One
of the Parts
Celebrating
with an
Interfaith
Prayer Service
by Susan Kramer
Part
of the One;
One
of the Parts
Celebrating
with an
Interfaith
Prayer Service
by Susan Kramer
|
|
Part of the One; one of
the parts
While living a practical
life in this world
I participate in the world making daily decisions and doing my own activities.
All the while I know that on the unseen levels I am part of all, part of the One, and all and the One are part of me.
How does this idea take form?
While conscious that I am an integral part of the web of existence, I use my thinking mind to carry out my daily existence and do the activities that give me the most joy; choosing to act for the greatest good of each situation and taking responsibility for my actions.
I enjoy feeling interconnected with each aspect of creation in the world, feeling on the unseen levels actually part of all. Spiritually I do not feel separate from any aspect of creation, though my physical body and thinking mind seem separate.
While I have a separate body and thinking mind I use it to share my acquired insights and knowledge; living a practical useful life. Even a person living on the planet in an enlightened state of consciousness is still carrying a physical body and has a thinking mind to be used in the highest service at all times and takes responsibility for actions even more than before enlightenment, as now there is not the excuse of being a learner, only. In an ecumenical light the examples of recognized enlightened beings from history can be our examples: Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mohammed, Master Sivananda of Rishikesh to name just a few.
Yes, we are part of the One and the One is part of each of us. While living in our body we honor the pervading Spirit by being a comfort to all; by being good, doing good, being responsible citizens of the world.
Respecting the many paths
that lead
To the same joyful goal
As part of the One; one
of the parts
Living a practical life
in this world
|
|
May the light of wisdom
Enlighten us all
Clergy of various faiths participate with the focus on the 'spiritual light' that enlightens all; promoting peace within each, and by caring, loving thoughts and acts, a growing world peace.
The meaning of the word enlighten is to be spiritually 'in light'.
With this in mind, a central symbol of worship could be a candle that is placed at the center of a table at the front; lit before the ceremony.
A moderator presides at the side front that lets the congregation know what is coming next and to introduce the participants.
Preparations:
Distribute the program of
events to the congregation. Include the text of prayers offered by each
clergy, and words to the songs to be sung by all. Congregation to take
their copy home.
The Ceremony:
The congregation first take
their seats. Moderator stands at side front.
The representatives of each faith enter from the back in a procession while uplifting music is played or sung, each holding an unlit candle, and one at a time approach the central lit candle lighting their own candle, and then placing it in a holder next to the main candle. Each clergy remains standing in front of their candle facing the congregation.
In turn, clergy offer a prayer from their own religious tradition that is universal in nature. When all clergy have concluded their opening prayer, the clergy are seated along the front row.
The moderator announces that a minute of silence will begin.
Next, offerings are made at the front of the room, of inspiring song or dance from each faith, or in honor of each faith.
After the offerings of singing or dancing, each clergy in turn comes forward, facing the congregation, and offers a short homily (time allotment preset) along universal lines, and returns to their seat.
At the end of the short homilies, the entire congregation, led by the moderator, recites a universal prayer for peace. An uplifting song is sung by all as the clergy leave in a recessional.
Example of a prayer for peace:
A Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace.
Where there is hatred... let
me sow love.
Where there is injury... pardon.
Where there is discord...
unity.
Where there is doubt... faith.
Where there is error...truth.
Where there is despair...
hope.
Where there is sadness...
joy.
Where there is darkness..
light.
O Divine Master, grant that
I may not so much seek.
To be consoled...as to console.
To be understood.. as to understand.
To be loved... as to love.
for
It is in giving... that we
receive.
It is in pardoning... that
we are pardoned.
It is in dying... that we
are born to eternal life.
Recessional song idea:
"Let There Be Peace on Earth
and let it begin with me.
Let There Be Peace on Earth,
the peace that was meant to be!
With God as our Father, brothers
all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me. Let
this be the moment now.
With ev'ry breath I take,
let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live
each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me!"
-- Written by Sy Miller
and Bill Jackson
Modify the basic ceremony format to suit the situation
One modification could be that each member of the congregation receives a small candle with a paper shield near the base along with their program. At the end of the homilies, the person seated nearest the center isle goes up and lights their candle from the main candle and returns to their seat and passes their light, candle to candle, down the row. When all candles in the congregation are lit this way the recessional takes place singing the uplifting song.
ã
2002 Susan Kramer
web site http://www.susankramer.com
email susan@susankramer.com
photo credit Susan Kramer
The sculpture above resides in the Kröller-Müller Museum sculpture garden, which is located in the Hoge Veluwe, the largest national park in The Netherlands. The original artwork in the museum was formerly in the collection of Helene Kröller-Müller (1869-1939) of German descent. Helene and her husband, Anton Kröller, a Dutchman, built up the collection. In 1935 when the collection became too large she transferred ownership to the Netherlands State. The museum was designed by Henry van de Velde and was opened in 1938.
The sculpture garden began in 1961 and in its natural park setting has sculptures from the end of the 19th century to the present; among those represented are Jean Dubuffet, Barbara Hepworth, A. Maillol, Arturo Martini, Mario Merz, Henry Moore, Claes Oldenburg, Auguste Rodin and Richard Serra.
A web site with information about the museum and directions to get there and open times is at the URL: http://www.kmm.nl/general.htm