September 11, 2008 is world day of prayer.  Once a year to open our 24 hours of prayer we hold an Ecumenical Service.

We invite Priests, Monks, Clergy, Practitioners from 12 different religions to speak. This year we've had 8 reply that they will attend.

7 pm September 10, 2008

3501 Moylan Drive

Bowie, MD 20715

(301) 464-5581

Auspicious date some would say. Well we've had the day of prayer for many years but not to long ago we decided to add the Ecumenical service to kick it off. That year was 2001 and that day was 9/11/2001 and we had I believe 9 representatives that first year, and believe it or not each and every one talked about peace and love. Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew, Bahai...each and all peace and love, beautiful prayers and sentiments.

  

This year the calendar has worked its way back to the same day.

 Our 24 hours of prayer will close on September 11 at 7 pm with a 45 minute Rumi movie, followed by Sufi Dancing, the Dances of Universal Peace.

  

Again, any and all who are in the area are welcome.

  

Our World Day of Prayer is part of our kick off to 11 days of Global Unity an International Event and culminates here on the UN Peace Day September 21st where we will be dedicating a Peace Pole in our meditation garden.

 Search the net, find an event near you, or start one!

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College,
girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an
old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forgot you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence, as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped
in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight
to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped
by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like
crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home
from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature
required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was
old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting as difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.

Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he
unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and
cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his
assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by
the moments that take our breath away,"

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

To everyone I sent this to " Thanks for your time"

October 10-13, 2008: "Heartbeat for Peace: Drum the Heart; Heal the Earth" -


On October 13, on the fourth day of a four-day event, and on the fourth anniversary of their founding as an Alliance, the Grandmothers will participate with Eli Painted Crow and Turtle Women Rising in a Drum Gathering for Peace on the Ellipse in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. The Grandmothers Council will come together to sing to the Earth Mother, in order to create peace. For as women we know that "We cannot demand Peace; we can only become it. We cannot fight for Peace; we can only live it."


Eli Painted Crow writes, "It is the intention of Turtle Women Rising to invite all people to stand for peace in Washington D.C., the heart of where important decisions are made affecting the world. Our ceremony will be held on October 10 -13, 2008. We will be drumming, praying and offering our healing songs continuously to change the unbalance of the planet, and to help heal the hearts of those who are dying and suffering."


more >> Turtle Women Rising Letter: http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com/docs/turtlewomenrising.pdf

For more information see http://www.turtlewomenrising.org/.