09/18/2004: "Syncretism in support of the UN"

From the site of the Anglican Communion Observer at the United Nations (betcha didn't know there was one), comes this call to ...something:

In support of the above General Assembly resolution, on September 21, 2004 , from 4:00-5:00p.m. in the Chapel at the Church Center for the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza, at the SW corner of 44 th St. and 1 st Avenue , we will build a multi-religious cry for peace. We are hoping this cry will be so powerful that it will shake the building, and touch the lives of those across the street in General Assembly. In union with voices around the world also spending the day in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, we join the chorus of millions praying earnestly for peace on this earth.

During this time of prayer and song, we will call out to across the earth and into the sky and to whatever gods are listening through drumming, chant and prayer. We will experience a solemn collective act of repentance for the injustices committed which are yet to be rectified. We will experience multiple religions' prayerful chanting behind a reading of the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations. We will hear a message spoken by a dynamic speaker for peace. And we will pray in sacred unison using our many traditions and symbols, chants and dances.

We would like to invite you and those associated with your religious faith to be the vital part of this time. Through both the leadership which comes forth from this invitation and those who spend this time in prayer on the 21st, we will attempt to express our deeply common desire for a world of peace.

Chanting. To the reading of the UN Charter Preamble. To whatever gods are listening. Presumably among the assembled multitudes will be 400 prophets of Ba'al.

This same "minister," the Rev. Kathleen Stone of the Church Center of the United Nations (and a United Methodist), also has this to say about the day's festivities:

"This service has been built to rather insistently remember the horror which war is, remember our promises through a reading of the Preamble of the Charter of the U.N., to ask the powers that be one more time to help us in such a time, and to pledge ourselves to upholding the highest ideals of the Charter.

O most holy UN, sanctify us by thy tender mercies. Or, if that isn't possible, throw a few million spare Oil-for-Food dollars our way. Amen. Whatever.

(Thanks to Chris Johnson for the link.)