MLK Beloved Community Convergence: Closing Ceremony, Part 1 of 2

The “MLK Beloved Community Convergence: Closing Ceremony” is a devotional ceremony based on indigenous wisdom from around the globe. In this ceremony, 22 women representing 20 different faith traditions gather online to offer prayers for their shared vision of ending all wars and beginning an era of world peace by 2030.

The first Sacred Prayers ceremony, led by Grandmother Mona Polacca, was held on March 22, 2016, on World Water Day. Since then, the ceremony has convened on several other occasions. On today’s program, we’ll share excerpts from the “MLK Beloved Community Convergence: Closing Ceremony” held on January 17, 2022. Due to time limitations, we are unable to air all of the prayers and words of wisdom offered during this sacred ceremony. However, we wish to show our deepest respect, gratitude, and acknowledgment to each participant, who were as follows.

The host was Joan Henry, a Tsalagi Cherokee, the Founder of the Mothers of Nations Singers and Dancers, and a member of the Circle of Elders at the Four Worlds International Institute (FWII). As the ceremony began, Joan explained that each prayer is like a single thread. As the prayers are offered, these “threads” become interwoven and intertwined, eventually forming a spiritual shawl. With the help of spirit powers, the spiritual shawl is then wrapped around Mother Earth to protect Her and all Her inhabitants. Joan began the ceremony by calling upon the spirit powers of the animal-people, the sky, the Earth, the grandmothers and grandfathers, and the Father in Heaven to “help us, help us, help us.”

Audrey Kitagawa, the Founder and President of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation and a United Nations Representative for the United Religions Initiative, offered the first prayer. "We pray together this prayer of gratitude for Divine love. Thank you, God, for this new day. And this special day which You have given to us with your spotless hands. May our every thought, word, and being manifest Your love."

Tami Hay, from Alberta, Canada, offered this heartfelt prayer for global peace. "There is a time not too far away, when our children will hear more kind words that day than any other, and when we all know we have the power to heal. And we honor the power of love, instead of the love of power. There is a time.”