Memoir Contest to Mark Anniversary of Sun Myung Moon's Seonghwa

May 10, 2013
Translated by Lymhwa Kim

One year after Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa (Ascension), the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in Korea and the Peace Ambassadors Council will memorialize his life-time devotion and dedication toward a peace movement with a literary contest composed of memoirs or poems from leaders and church members commemorating his life. Submissions in any language may be entered in the contest. The following are specifications for entries in the contest.

Contest theme:

The Man – Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the man I personally knew (personal interactions or conversations, connections)

Peace – Rev. Sun Myung Moon as a global peace activist

Religion – Rev. Sun Myung Moon as an interfaith religious leader

Culture – Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the man I saw through volunteers, art, sports and multi-cultural families

Submission period:

May 1, 2013 to June 29, 2013 (60 days)

Eligibility:

Peace ambassadors from any country and any church members

Contest sections:

Memoirs and/or poems

Format of Submissions:

Memoir: Hangeul word document (Hwp) file or Microsoft word Document (2 pages of A4 or 2 pages of Letter-sized [8.5 in. x 11 in.] paper, 13 font size)

Poem: Hangeul word document (Hwp) file or Microsoft word Document (300~400 words, 13 font size)

How to submit:

Online: Homepage (www.upf.or.kr) and email

Mail: Contest director, Dowon Bldg. 5th floor, Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, SEOUL 121-728 Rep. of KOREA

Prizes:

Grand prize (1 person) 1,000,000 won (about $910)
Gold Prize (1 person) 700,000 won (about $640)
Silver prize (1 person) 500,000 won (about $450)
Bronze Prize (3 person) 300,000 won (about $275)
Participation Prize (10 people) Value of 100,000 won gift certificate (about $91)

Contest Organizer:

Universal Peace Federation Peace
Ambassadors Council

For questions contact UPF assistant manager Yeon Su Kang

All the submitted compositions will belong to UPF and will not be returned.

Letter From Korea -- True Father's Universal Seonghwa

Katsumi Ohtsuka
September 6, 2012

I would like to share with you all about what is happening in Chung Pyung for True Father's Universal Seonghwa Ceremony.

The period to give our condolence began today, September 6th in Chung Pyung. A large number of members started to gather at Chung Pyung training center. Since 50,000 people are expected to come, the road to Chung Pyung training center, which has been under construction, was specially paved for the guests from abroad. The police stated to control the traffic. At this first day, True Parents' relatives and elders were blessed to have a chance to attend True Parents at Cheon Jeong Gung. This morning at 8 o'clock, True Parents' relatives, 36 family members and regional directors gathered at World Peace Center to go up to Cheon Jeong Gung where True Father's Holy Body is. The Altar of Universal Seonghwa Ceremony for True Father was covered by flowers and flowers of condolence from the President of Korea and other nation worldwide were decorating the Altar. After offering flower to True Father in front of the Altar, we all visited Cheon Jeong Gung by bus to offer our attendance and love for True Parents.

The room where True Father's Holy Body has been kept is the Big Hoon Dok Hae room and was filled with serene and sacred atmosphere. True Father is in the holy robe which was used for the honorable entry to Cheon Jeong Gung in 2006. On True Father's head, the crown of the King of Kings of Peace was shining brightly. True Mother was sitting beside true Father as usual in white Korean traditional wear, Chima Chogori, and received our condolences. Kook Jin Nim and his wife with Jyeong Jin Nim received our greetings on the left side of the coffin. We all could not help but shedding tears with sorrow and deep appreciation. True Father has been our life and all. We never forget His total dedication to God and limitless True Love for all humankind. The Truth He disclosed is eternal and His heart was filled with the heart to console His father: God. Keeping our personal memories in mind, we gave our bow to True Father from the bottom of our heart.

This period of condolence will continue till 13th, and the Universal Seonghwa Ceremony will be conducted on 15th. True Mother is scheduled to speak to members on 17th morning. 

Preparing For Our True Father's Seonghwa

Joshua Cotter
September 4, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings from Korea. We are now preparing for our True Father's Seonghwa, under the personal direction of our True Mother in order to honor our True Father on the world stage. In all of history, and for all time, there is no greater title than True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind. This is the crowning glory of True Father's victorious life.

Many of us have followed our True Parents for years, or even decades, and are honored to attend him at the time of his ascension. It is only now that we are beginning to realize the value of his life. We want to show the world through his Universal Seonghwa Ceremony his absolute greatness, so that they too may awaken to who he is and what he has given to the world.

Our True Mother invites each and every brother or sister to please come to Korea. She wants everyone who loves our True Father to be able to offer devotion to him in person. This is an incredible blessing and priceless opportunity. Each family is asked to make a $1,200 offering to express their gratitude.

We hope that at least one person from each family can attend True Father's Universal Seonghwa Ceremony on September 15th. You may arrive between September 12th to 14th to pray and offer devotion. We ask that all brothers and sisters stay for our True Mother's historic address to our worldwide membership on September 17th. It's crucial that we come together at this time and express our unity and commitment centering on True Mother's leadership, representing True Parents.

We are responsible for our own airfare. National Headquarters is currently researching flight options to facilitate such a large pilgrimage. Accommodations will be provided for all participants.

Let us join together in supporting our eternal True Parents. As In Jin Nim reminded us in her speech to the Chicago congregation, "None of us would be here without True Parents. We would not have our spouse or our eternal and unique, precious children." Let's show our love and gratitude to True Parents.

Sincerely,

Rev. Joshua Cotter
Executive Vice President
Unification Church USA

True Father’s Seonghwa

To : Regional Presidents, National Messiahs, National Leaders
From : Unification Church World Mission Headquarters
Date : 7.17 by the Heavenly Calendar (September 3, 2012)
Re. : True Father’s Seonghwa

I pray that the grace and love of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind will overflow upon all blessed families in each region, mission nation, and providential organization, and throughout the world.

Our beloved True Father who came to this earth as the Savior of humankind, the Messiah, the True Parent and the King of Kings and lived a holy life of true love throughout his 93 years, shedding blood, sweat and tears for God’s liberation, the salvation of humankind and world peace, having concluded, completed and perfected his providential mission, ascended into the spirit world at 1:54 AM, 7.17 by the heavenly calendar in the 3rd year of Cheon-gi (September 3, 2012) at the Cheongshim International Medical Center. He was surrounded by True Mother and the True Children.

I offer my most sincere thanks to all our members worldwide who have offered jeongseong for the sake of our True Father’s recovery. Details and the full schedule of True Father’s Seonghwa Ceremony will be announced later.

Dr. Joon Ho Seuk
International Vice-President
Unification Church
President of the Korean Church

True Father’s Seonghwa

I pray that the grace and love of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind will overflow upon all blessed families in each region, mission nation, and providential organization, and throughout the world.

Our beloved True Father who came to this earth as the Savior of humankind, the Messiah, the True Parent and the King of Kings and lived a holy life of true love throughout his 93 years, shedding blood, sweat and tears for God’s liberation, the salvation of humankind and world peace, having concluded, completed and perfected his providential mission, ascended into the spirit world at 1:54 AM, 7.17 by the heavenly calendar in the 3rd year of Cheon-gi (September 3, 2012) at the Cheongshim International Medical Center. He was surrounded by True Mother and the True Children.

I offer my most sincere thanks to all our members worldwide who have offered jeongseong for the sake of our True Father’s recovery.

Details and the full schedule of True Father’s Seonghwa Ceremony will be announced later.

Dr. Joon Ho Seuk
International Vice-President
Unification Church
President of the Korean Church