Steve and I celebrated the International Day of Peace in Escondido on Sunday, September 21st .  It was a lovely celebration with many faiths and children participating.  We had beautiful cool weather with a light breeze and we all were seated in the shade.  About 50 people were in attendance. As part of the program Steve and I lit candles representing 12 faiths while saying the Kinship Prayer as a responsive reading with the audience. I would like to share this prayer with you.

A Kinship Prayer

In striving to recognize the primacy of Fire and Light,                                                        I feel kinship with my Zoroastrian brothers and sisters.

In striving to obey the Ten Commandments,                                                                      I feel kinship with my Jewish brothers and sisters.

In striving to be kind to neighbors and the needy,                                                               I feel kinship with my Christian brothers and sisters.

In striving to surrender myself completely to God almighty,                                                I feel kinship with my Muslim brothers and sisters.

In the recognition that wisdom flows from enlightened masters,                                        I feel kinship with my Sikh brothers and sisters.

In remembering that serving people should be the goal of religion,                                    I feel kinship with my Baha’i brothers and sisters.

In knowing the power of our mind and heart to create our life,                                           I feel kinship with my New Thought brothers and sisters.

In my respect and reverence fro Nature that sustains us,                                                   I feel kinship with my Native American brothers and sisters.

In feeling that these and more are all paths to the same Divinity,                                        I feel kinship with my Hindu brothers and sisters.

In my love and laughter, joy and pain,                                                                                I feel kinship with all my fellow humans.

In my need for nourishment and instinct to live on,                                                             I feel kinship with all beings on the planet.

In my spiritual ecstasy with this wondrous world,                                                                I feel kinship with the Cosmic Whole.

*** Inspired by the Parliament of World Religions , South Africa in 1999                    Composed by Dr. V.V. Raman.                                                                                          New Thought Kinship addition composed by Rev. Dr. Abigail & Rev. Dr. Stephen Albert after the 2009 Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, Australia.