On Sunday 23rd June,
there was a celebration at the Peace Pagoda which is next to Camphill Milton
Keynes to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the building of the
Peace Pagoda.
This is an outline of what happened.
10.15am Procession – Monks and Nuns of Nipponzan Myohoji led the
procession from the Temple to the Peace Pagoda.
10.35am Ceremony of the 33rd Anniversary of the Peace Pagoda,
presided over by Rev. Masunaga, Senior Monk of Nipponzan Myohoji.
11.30am Address and Message of peace: Sir Stuart Hampson, High
Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.
11.40am Prayers for Peace offered by representatives of the
following faiths:
Christian
– Father Colin Griffiths, The Well
Hindu
– Mr. Bharat Vyas
Jewish
– Mrs. Lynda Gilbert
Muslim
– Mr. Fazle Khundkar
Pagan
– Mr. Nick Woodley
Quaker
– Ms. Helen Stephenson
Sai
Baba – Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation
Sikh
– Mr. P. Obhi
12.25pm Addresses
and Messages of Peace:
Councillor
Brian White – Mayor of Milton Keynes
Sister
Susan Clarkson – Catholic Worker Organisation
Pavla
Gossop – MK Peace and Justice Network
Shigeo
Kobayashi – Japanese Against Nuclear
1.00pm Lunch
Interval: Songs for Peace – Marcus Armstrong and friend.
2.00pm Multi-Cultural
Events:
Japanese
Songs – Sakura Ladies Choir
Sanskrit
Songs – Children of the Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation
Indian
Children’s Dance – Nrithiya Sangeetha Academy
Peace
Songs – Members of the Sri Lankan Community
Poetry
and Hand bell performance – Camphill Community (I read a song called ‘Imagine’
by John Lennon while Hanna and Charmaine rung bells to it).
Djembe
Drum Music – Inta Africa Drum Group
3.30pm Conclusion
Rev. Nagahma
Alex Fox