PEACE BEGINS WITH ME
How to kick off 2017 as leaders of heart and substance? This was the question of the leadership team of WFWP’s Georgia Chapter: co-chairwomen Myrna Lapres and Ekaette Heyliger, and Treasurer Miambi Koko. The team decided to begin by inspiring ourselves and our church community first. That is how it was decided to hold a Bridge of Peace ceremony on January first during the worship service at the Atlanta Family Church in Ellenwood, Georgia. The theme of the Sunday Service was “Peace Begins With Me.”
Myrna Lapres gave a short talk to set the tone for the service and served as the emcee. Ekaette Heyliger introduced the Bridge of Peace, and Miambi Koko organized the entertainment and dancing.The program was composed of three elements. The first was reflection and repentance. Then was the offering and commitment. The final element was celebration through music and entertainment. We invited all families and individuals to cross the Bridge of Peace as an opportunity to recommit to practicing understanding, caring for, and loving each other.
The program continued with singing and dancing, and culminated with everyone joining together to sing“Let There Be Peace On Earth.” After the program was over, we were delighted to hear from a number of people who expressed their strong interest in planning Bridge of Peace events with friends, contacts, and organizations in the Atlanta area in 2017.
Through this, 2017 has begun with a lot of hope for future gatherings and events in Atlanta and the surroundings to foster peaceful actions and reconciliation both within our immediate communities and beyond. Let peace begin with each of us as we go forward together in God’s love.
