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The Unity-and-Diversity World Council (UDC), in cooperation with the Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP), produced this 11th annual Peace Sunday on Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend.  Its theme was Building Bridges Across Our Differences. It was a most successful event, with 140 people participating.  The major purpose of this Peace Sunday was to seek to understand Islam more fully and to go beyond its stereotyping, which has become so prevalent in recent times. 

Keynote speakers were Edina Lekovic, Communications Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and Stephen Rohde, Chairperson of ICUJP and an outstanding attorney. A Heart of Humanity Award was given to Blasé and Theresa Bonpane, Founders of Office of the Americas, for their long-standing work for peace, justice, and humanity. Jihad Turk, Director of Religious Education for the Islamic Center, welcomed the people and established a tone of friendliness and mutual understanding.  Rev. Leland Stewart, Founder/Central Coordinator of UDC brought greetings from this organization, which has sponsored Peace Sunday since its beginning in 1989. Bonnie Blustein brought the welcome for ICUJP.

There were also three excellent performances, a Middle Eastern couple called Mitra and Rama, a gospel singer by the name of Crystal Davis, and the producer Stephen Longfellow Fiske. 

A moving Interfaith Celebration was held, with two representatives from each of eleven faiths including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism as well as more recent faiths such as Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and Baha'i.  This year the readers surrounded the audience, while the candlelighters assembled on stage and lighted the candles as the readings were being given.

In addition to the two co-producers of this event, there were twenty co-sponsors, many of whom had displays at the event. Displays opened at 2 p.m. and were greeted by interested and hungry attendees, who chose to come early this year and visit the exhibit room.  A great energy was generated during that hour, which carried into and beyond the 3-5 p.m. program.  Some also stayed afterward to continue their visitation, but most of the people chose to go home, since it was raining at that time.

The response to Peace Sunday was most enthusiastic and will be long remembered.  The Islamic Center was an excellent venue; its leaders saw that the people's needs were met, and the atmosphere was most gracious. 

Rev Leland Stewart has recently published Vol. 2 of his World Scriptures.  Both volumes are available and well worth the modest investment. Check here for more details.
 

Unity-and-Diversity World Council - Contact Information

Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., B.T., 
       Founder/Central Coordinator
P.O. Box 661401
Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: 310-391-5735
FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first)
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com
Website: www.udcworld.org