The Manteca Interfaith Community — an effort across the religious spectrum — is hoping to foster more understanding.
It is why they are staging a local observance this evening of the International Day of Peace that takes place at 6 p.m. in the courtyard at the Manteca Civic Center, accessed from either Magnolia Street or Center Street. Attendance is open to the entire community.
MICA is comprised of St. Paul’s United Methodist church, Transformed through Hope Ministries, The Sikh Community, the Baha’i Community, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Islamic Center of Manteca.
The Peace Day program will feature local community leaders such as Manteca Police Chief Mike Aguilar and Congressman Josh Harder’s representative Rhodesia Ransom.
Offering their thoughts on peace will be Russell Ballow of the Baha’i Community, Jaspreet Kaur and Navroop Kaur of the Sikh Community of Manteca, Kade Petersen of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Jason Thornton of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
Cynthia Jackson of Transformed through Hope Ministries will welcome attendees while Bayan Ballow will provide a description of the International Day of Peace. John Parker of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will offer a Prayer for Peace while Salma Uz-Zaman of Islamic community will deliver the Spoken Word.
There will be a unison reading of “Let There be Peace on Earth” before Mohammad El-Farra of the Islamic Center of Manteca presents the closing remarks.
Organizers note “though this event cannot change the whole world, MICA hopes to inspire and enlighten those who attend, and help all who come feel a little more peace on earth – beginning right here in Manteca.”
Today marks the 73rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations that established an International Peace Day observance every year on Sept. 21. Peace Day is designed to provide a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a “Culture of Peace”.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
