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 <<CityNews Main Send Flowers to India!

 We invite associations, organizations and clubs from cities around the US to send in press releases accompanied with high resolution photos for publication in City News. Contributions may be sent to editor@NRIPulse.com.

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Atlanta

Interfaith Prayer Service For Peace At The Ebenezer Church

BY MAHADEV DESAI 

Photos by Mahadev Desai & Ravi R. Ponangi. 

The Atlanta Conference of Sisters and the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta hosted an Interfaith Prayer Service for peace at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, adjoining the Gandhi Statue at the MLK Historic Site, on Friday, August 18. Over 300 members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, members of the Gandhi Foundation of USA; and members of the Education Unit of CARE USA joined in the prayers for peace in the current turbulent times.

The service commenced with a fine organ prelude by Tim Wissler, organist of the Cathedral of Christ the King Church. Next, Joan McCann, O.P.Atlanta Conference of Sisters (ACS); greeted the audience and requested them to observe a moment’s silence and pray for peace. Rev.Dr. Selina Smith of Ebenezer Baptist Church then welcomed the congregation to the hallowed New Horizon Sanctuary in the heartland of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. The Jewish Temple’s first Cantor Deborah Numark then sang a captivating Hebrew prayer song in a flawless intonation.

Imam Plemon T.El-Amin, of Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam; Rabbi Albert Slomovitz of Gesher L’Torah Synagogue in Atlanta;Valentina Sheridan,RSM, of Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas;Gilbert “Budd” Friend-Jones, of Central Congregational United Church of Christ and Dr.Jamillah Karim,of Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam and an Asst. Prof.of Religion at Spellman College, Raj Razdan, Founder and Executive Director of Senior Citizen Program Inc.,all spoke about meaning of peace, (Shalom)different aspects of peace, and the need for promoting peace on a war footing! in the present day violent world. 

Imam Plemon spoke about the bond between Gandhi and King and quoted King, "Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore Gandhi at our own risk." - 

All the speakers enlightened the congregation with eloquent delivery of spiritualism and speeches. 

Raj Razdan, representing the Hindu faith, expressed her immense pleasure and honor to provide the benediction on peace at a location where humanities two most revered apostles of peace are memorialized. Her reference was to the life-size bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi adjoining the new Ebenezer Church. The Gandhi Statue was dedicated and inaugurated in January 1998. 

Raj recited a poem by India’s Nobel Laureate, Poet Rabindranath Tagore- “Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God She concluded by reciting another profound Shloka, and requesting the congregation to repeat “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti” after her. 

As the chanting of Shanti Shanti by the congregation echoed in the sanctuary, it made the service resound and spiritually devotional.
The Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery, dressed in vibrant red and saffron robes, recited sacred the Tibetan chant in unwavering vocal virtuosity, gradually raising the pitch to a crescendo, all in unison.

The grand finale at the church was the singing of the patriotic song America the beautiful (with special words by Anne Brotherton sfcc) led by Cantor Deborah Numark.

The highlight, undoubtedly was the Peace March, reminding of the famous Dandi/Selma March. Leaders of the Gandhi Foundation and the Indian American community, Subash Razdan, Giriraj Rao, Antony Thaliath, Kumkum Kashiparikh, Mahadev Desai, Leela Kaul, Raj Razdan, Sneha Mehta, Srikant Konda, Ravi Ponangi, Shawn Rao, Swaminathan and many others led the congregation from the Sanctuary in a Peace March to the Gandhi Statue. 

Sr.Mary-beth Beres welcomed all and invited Sr.Bea Eichten, Joan McCann, and a member of CARE USA to step forward and each light one of the wicks of the traditional Hindu diya(lamp) sanctifying the environment. The attendees, who had come from various states of USA stood around the resplendent Gandhi Statue as the leaders and representatives of participating faiths laid flowers to solemnly honor Gandhi with reverence. All, over 300 present joined in singing one of the most beloved prayer songs of Gandhiji- Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, a song of unity and brotherhood among all people, and calling for respect towards all. At the statue, Kumkum Kashiparekh presented a memento to the convener Mary-beth Beres for her dedication and her initiative of outreach with the community. 
The elegant and uplifting service where prayers and poetry were offered by leaders from a range of faith traditions including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism needs to be lauded as it encourages the participants to reach out to one another and to live together as a people, a nation, and a global community with respect and love for each other in peace. 

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