Interfaith Prayer for World Peace

Tauranga Faiths Come Together to Support World Peace Through Prayer Event.

The Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council is holding its fourth annual Prayers for World Peace event.

Koha-donation on entry. Please bring a plate that reflects your faith tradition to share.

The Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council (TIFCO) is holding a Prayer Event in support of the International Week of Prayer for World Peace. People of all faiths are welcome to offer prayers for world peace in ways that both reflect the diversity of our many faiths and our common desire for peace in our world. Over the last four years this has included music, prayers, readings, talks on world peace and silence.

The event is part of the International Interfaith Week of Prayer for World Peace from 12th to 20th October. The first Week of Prayer for World Peace grew out of a Christian initiative In 1974 It soon became an interfaith activity, and now welcomes everyone of all faith traditions or none, across all continents, to take part.

The faiths that are participating so far include: Anglican, Baha’i, Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Hare Krishna, Methodists, and Quakers; with others yet to confirm their participation.

The invitations remain open to all faiths to participate in the program and they can do so by contacting John Hebenton, The Chairperson of TIFCO on 021679202.

This will be the fourth Prayers for World Peace event sponsored by the Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council. Last year’s event had a wide range of faiths attend and was successful and it is hoped that this year’s event will build on that through adding more representation of the diverse faiths in the region and increased participation by the public.

With the increased number of conflicts around the World and the suffering caused it is important that we continue to remind ourselves of how fragile peace can be and through events like this we hope to reduce the barriers or differences through the diverse nationalities, ethnicities, faiths and cultures that we come from.

Interfaith involves promoting awareness among people of different religions or beliefs, and those of no particular religion or belief, to increase understanding and acceptance of others, with an aim of building a foundation for peace worldwide.

All are welcome to attend and for all attending a small koha or donation is requested along with a plate of food to share afterward.

For those inspired with the idea of praying with people of all beliefs, two thoughts might be helpful:

- First, the different words and prayers that people recite are said by neighbours in the same town and the same street every day and every week, and by sharing together we simply bring under one roof what happens anyway under the same sky.

- Secondly, Interfaith recognizes that its partnership does not itself imply agreement. The things that members agree on are many and precious. What is disagreed is precious too.

The members of Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council welcome all who stand and pray for peace with them, and encourage all to come and fill the hall and contribute.

If you are interested in contributing to the programme of for further information please contact John Hebenton on 021679292 or Email - John.HebentonTSSF@gmail.com.

The Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council exists to foster mutual appreciation and good relations between these traditions and communities; to coordinate action, and/or to act, on behalf of any or all of these communities in respect of religious issues and relationships to society at large; and to act in an advisory and consultative capacity to the community at large; and to support the New Zealand Statement on Religious Diversity.