Rainy weather encouraged an indoor World Peace Prayer Ceremony in October 2008 at Unity of Fairfax Church in Oakton, Virginia. But the community spilled outside for a brief dedication and the blessing of a newly planted peace pole and the “peace garden” surrounding it. Inside, a ceremony involving 190 flags from around the world was conducted by visiting representatives of the World Peace Prayer Society. Senior minister Donna Johnson encouraged everyone present to “feel the peace within” as the first step to creating a peaceful world around us.

Three World Peace Prayer Society representatives shared their vision for peace in this moving ceremony. Their visit to the D.C. area is part of a quest to travel the globe, planting peace poles, and conducting ceremonies for peace.

“This was an intergenerational effort, fulfilling a vision we've long held in our hearts,” said Kathryn Ashera, director of the youth and family ministry. The children, teens, and adults of Unity all worked together to create this symbol of commitment to a peaceful world. The children helped choose the site and planted the flowers. The Uniteens helped cut away the sod to prepare the ground, and on planting day, each took one of our pre-K or kindergartners by the hand to help them choose and plant their flower. The YOUers set the peace-symbol stones in place, and one of them helped put layers of cement around the newly planted peace pole.

Our volunteer landscapers gave us wonderful advice on all aspects of the project, tilled the soil until it was ready for planting, and helped us find the right flowers at a great price. A crew of dedicated adults prepared the garden so that it was ready for the ceremony.

The pole is planted in the midst of a peace-symbol garden. The peace symbol was created with white quartz rocks from the surrounding area and is filled with a colorful array of flowers. The sides of the peace pole include the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages. Unity of Fairfax chose English, Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic as its four languages. The pole is a natural cedar wood, reflecting the fact that the meditation garden is an official wildlife sanctuary. The “Heart Haven” meditation garden at Unity of Fairfax also houses a variety of plants, a bubbling fountain, and a Native American-inspired medicine wheel.

For more information, see Unity of Fairfax's Web site at www.unityoffairfax.org.

This article was excerpted from the February/March 2009 issue of Contact Magazine. To learn more about the magazine, click here.