9/11 Peace Prayers and Picnic, Palo Alto, CA.
Sathya Sai International Organization (SSIO) of Northern California, along with the Multi-faith Voices for Peace and Justice and the American Muslim Voice, co-hosted the annual 9/11 Peace Prayers and Picnic at the King Plaza in Palo Alto, CA. The event aims to celebrate and raise awareness of the unity of all faiths. Many faith groups came together and offered songs, scripture readings and prayers stressing the message of love and peace that bound all participants together. The evening kicked off with a picnic followed by a children’s choir, multi-faith prayers, musical presentations and ended with a candlelight vigil. About 10 SSIO members, led by Young Adults (YAs) presented a short musical program. They sang two songs, “Make me a channel of Your peace” and “May the love we’re sharing spread its wings”, which were enthusiastically received by the audience.
The YAs felt gratified to know their participation in the event was a part of something larger - the unifying force of love that overcame the sorrow and the grim loss experienced on 9/11. A YA participant shared, “The 9/11 Multi-faith Peace Prayers program reflected everything Sathya Sai Baba has extolled about oneness and unity of faiths. To see people of different ages, creeds, colors and nationalities all come together to appreciate the oneness in all, was immensely satisfying. By being there, we were spreading the message of Peace and Love through the gift of music. Despite the solemn nature of the day, it was truly a sight to behold to see everyone come together with no division of any kind!”
Another YA said “This is my second year attending 9/11 Peace Prayers, an event that is very close to my heart. The candlelight vigil at the end was my favorite part, when we all lit up our candles amid the darkness of the evening and sang together an all-time favorite hymn, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” The event is truly a testimony to how different faiths can co-exist in harmony. It showed that the unifying principle of love is indeed still possible in these turbulent times of conflict and divisiveness."
*Photos by Pro Bono Photo affiliate Chris Cassell (https://www.probonophoto.org)