Hi all,

We held a simple ceremony in the Geelong Botanic Gardens to celebrate International Day of Peace starting at 5.30pm. We placed the big fabric banner (3m x 2m) at the front of the garden entrance, welcoming all who attended. This banner has MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH on it in every world language. At this place people were encouraged to write positive messages on paper flowers and seeds, to hang on the bushes further into the Gardens, down by the Peace Pole. Three wonderful Year 12 students from Kardinia International College played live music to welcome the guests.

Between 30-40 attended over the period which was wonderful considering we had rain for a while before the event and our city football team Geelong, was playing in the Australian League semi finals in Melbourne! We had representatives present prayers from the major world faiths where everyone said the prayers in unison. Each presenter stepped forward, laying a flower into the basket, saying "We offer this flower representing the ......tradition." THe prayers were then said.

Throughout the ceremony we had a flame burning in a beautiful bamboo container representing the ONENESS of us all, sitting on a fabric map of the world which had upon it, small coloured versions of each nation's flag. At the conclusion of the interfaith prayers we prayed for each continent and then members of Byakko 'gifted' the prayer of Jinrui Soku Kami Nari with sound to the audience. It sounded like angels! We all then sang together "We are one world, one voice, one heart beating" over a few times. Re-dedication of the Peace Pole then occurred with a short explanation of their importance all over the world.

Our closing sharing was to each take a seed packet (sunflowers), tied to a coloured card dove, from a basket and exchange it with someone nearby with the words, "May peace be with you." All very beautiful, gentle and loving. A wonderful evening was had by us all. I'll add a note I had sent to me this morning from a participant. "the service was lovely. I think simple serves a great purpose. The focus was strong, the intent clear and true. All those who came braved the elements and so their committment was strong and loving!

It was truly an inter faith meeting...a man to my left was making positive comments all through it to his family....the prayers were brief and very to the point (he loved that) and Jenny spoke from the heart and as he said she didn't waffle! And the flowers were magnificent, the birds joined us in song, the rain was such a positive blessing too...everything went really well...as though it had all been rehearsed... I counted about 30 beautiful beings joining together for the one common goal of peace... the song was a positive too."

Robynne