In Memoriam: Belmonte X. Vianale

I'm very grateful to my husband for his love, support and, most of all, his directions. In the past few years, I could see how he understood Father's direction for the hometown providence, connecting to our families and making real relationships with people.

Monte's Seung Hwa ceremony was a true hometown experience and victory. I could feel the spirit of my husband working, our ancestors lining up and working together with our families on earth. Our families truly supported us and our church practices during this time. Also on Aug. 24, 1995 my parents were Blessed in New York by satellite. I felt an abundance of God's love and support from Monte and spirit world.

I would like to share these words Linda Howell wrote to me because this is how I myself, friends, brothers and sisters who knew and worked with Monte remember him: "Words aren't enough to say because the heart was involved so much. He picked me up spiritually when I was hurting and pushed me forward so God could use me in a victorious way."

Frances Vianale

I first came to know Monte at the seminary in 1970. I don't remember exactly how we met, but I do remember his indefatigable desire to make things happen. To innovate, to expand, to build, to grow, to work to substantiate Father's inspiration and vision on the front line. In the churches, in the neighborhoods, where the people were, where it counted.

He motivated and inspired a group of us to develop more effective and creative ways to reach people and to serve-through newsletters, slide shows, talent shows and special service projects.

While many of these instruments of love and communication seem obvious now, Monte was ahead of his time in the late '70s and faced challenges like those other pioneers have met in history, trying to communicate his vision, desperation, urgency, frustration and intense desire. Monte was driving himself to the maximum to do all he could to help Father alleviate suffering in heaven and earth. He continuously grappled to master himself while focusing on contributing to others.

For years after graduation we went in many different directions in the mission field and didn't see each other so often. About two years ago, I spoke with Monte at a church holy day celebration at the World Mission Center. He shared frankly about some of the lessons he learned over the years and his aspirations and regrets. Most profound was his sincere desire to be a true son of True Parents and his repentance for any shortcomings he may have had.

Don Sardella

Monte was always preoccupied with implementing ideas to make witnessing more successful. He had a drive within him to find a successful way of reaching God's precious children. Monte tried many ways of expressing the Divine Principle: talent shows, ecumenical church services, street preaching, street witnessing, surveys, lecturing, meeting in coffee shops, storefronts, slide shows, and specialized talks on the Principle. He used his unique God-given organizational skills to reach others. In the early 1980s while I worked with him in CARP, he constantly tried to create for young brothers and sisters an atmosphere of hope and happiness to complement the long hours and difficult journey of living the Principle. Some brothers and sisters might remember "Beach CARP"-working hard in the morning fundraising in the heat in Queens, and then taking a lunch to Jones Beach for a break and a swim. Then it was back out onto the streets fundraising or witnessing. He was a dedicated brother who gave so much.

Linda Howell

For the past couple of months I've been sad because I felt like I never got the chance to say good-bye.

As each day goes by, I realize there was no point in so longs. I know you are still here and I know you are watching over me. Special thanking for watching over me at my new job. It's nice to have my teacher back again from 3,000 miles away.

You and Frances have touched my life in a very special way. You have both been a wonderful friend to me when I needed one the most. Thank you. Please continue to work your magic "upstairs". I'm sure you know that Frances needs you by her side right now. Time will heal a lot of the pain but the love and fond memories will never fade away.

Kelly Reins

My brother Belmonte Vianale was born and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Blessed with a quick, analytical mind, he had little trouble with his school subjects and achieved good grades. He went to Brooklyn College, where he majored in chemistry. He worked part-time after school and, despite the many problems and challenges which come with working and studying, he was determined to graduate, which he did with high marks.

After school he began work as a flavor chemist and because of his leadership ability and organizational skills he was soon promoted to a management position. He was well liked by his peers in school and during his working career.

Although he had a knack for acquiring money and position, he searched for something deeper, and did not take refuge in physical possessions. He grew dissatisfied with his work and finally left it. He worked in food stores but, because his needs were few, he was able be live with financial security. However, he was still discontent.

In Nov. 1974 his neighbor Dennis Tirotta returned from his first Unification Principle workshop. He came downstairs to see Monte and invited him to a party upstate. Monte was feeling depressed and felt the change would do him good. He quickly understood and accepted Divine Principle, became a Unification Church member, and gave up his worldly possessions with a good heart. He made effort to live a high standard and follow True Parents.

After he attended the workshops at Barrytown, he went on to the Baltimore, Md. center in 1975. From there he went to a business missions, and then back to the Baltimore center. He was struggling there and having problems, so Mr. Choi sent him pioneering to Towson, Md. in Dec. '76 It was snowing and freezing cold. His prospects for success seemed dismal, but he was determined to go to Towson. He slept in a doorway while he fundraised and soon rented a storefront, which he used as a witnessing base and a place to sleep. He did many creative witnessing projects at the university there and achieved a measure of success.

Monte attended UTS and cherished his time there and the education he received. At UTS he was able to make progress with self-development and initiate some new witnessing techniques.

After UTS he went to CARP and led a team. Using his innovative witnessing techniques, the team gained the most successful witnessing results in the nation at that time.

He was Blessed on July 1, 1982 to Frances Chunka at Madison Square Garden. In 1984 he joined CAUSA and worked as a liaison with the hotels. His strong subjective nature proved an asset there. After that, he went to San Francisco as a CAUSA city leader to try to improve his spiritual life. As city leader he was able to move things along with his slide shows and talks at various Christian churches.

In 1989 he returned to New York, moved to his hometown in Queens to fulfill Tribal Messiahship, and went back to work as a chemist until illness overtook him in 1994. He passed into the spiritual world on July 5, 1995.

Daniel Vianale

How to Start a Sunday School... Evaluation and Reward

by Vicki Henry-Minneapolis, MN

By now your Sunday School should be modestly equipped, a curriculum in place, have organized classes and a teaching schedule and method. What else is left? In order for all the above to grow and develop, as well as have credibility in the eyes of leaders and parents alike, a systematic evaluation is necessary. The evaluation should be for both students and teachers.

Teacher Evaluation

Since almost all of our Sunday schools are staffed by well-meaning and involved parents who, more than likely, have no formal education in teaching, it is necessary for the principal of the Sunday school to help the staff recognize their good points and find ways to improve where needed.

There are two important aspects in doing this evaluation which all parties must keep in mind. One is that we cannot judge by the external aspect alone. Clean and organized classrooms and bulletin boards displayed with children's work, although an integral part and reflection of care and concern for religious education, does not show a teacher's rapport with his/her students. Test scores and projects do not reflect whether a child socialized or not. And they do not show whether the child is having a religious experience and journey. The other is that, in evaluating ourselves as teachers, we must keep in perspective that teaching and learning are never done. There is no end point in one's life where we can say "I'm finished." Also no teacher can reach all children. All children are different-learning in different ways and at different speeds, having characters which may meld better with one particular teacher than another. Please note that just because a student may not "jibe" with a particular teacher does not mean it is necessarily bad. Part of learning is developing a well- rounded character which can embrace and work well with all kinds of people. A child and teacher who encounter this situation should take it as a personal challenge which will affect a basic core part of their character growth.

The insert shows a self check list for teachers. If your Sunday school has a consistent staff, this is something you may have them use at least once or twice a year. Have them fill it out and give you (the principal) a copy. Try to arrange private meetings with each one of your staff to discuss it. If you have a constantly revolving teaching staff of parents volunteering a certain number of Sundays, a more informal group meeting once or twice a year to discuss concerns may be more fitting. This could even take the form of a one-day teachers' workshop.

Student Evaluation

Secular schools have run the gamut of different types of evaluation. Most of us grew up with the "A through F" grading system and that was that. Today, as a product of outcome-based education, we see evaluation of students' performance by means of a portfolio of work done in the classroom. Terms such as "meets expectations," "needs improvement," etc., are used. Using only one of these two methods can be misleading and may work to the detriment of any growth. The outcome-based approach fails to set any absolute standards, and by doing so fails not only the high achiever but all students. It promotes mediocrity and frustration at the same time. One can never "get ahead" but must be equal to others. However, using the traditional "A through F" grading scale arbitrarily does not show the more subtle forms of learning. I feel a system using both techniques gives a truer indication of what and how a child is learning.

Keeping a portfolio of students' work for a class which only meets once a week may or may not be feasible. In one sense it is nice to have everything neatly kept by the teacher so parents may be able to view it at certain points throughout the year, thereby getting a clearer picture of their child's progress. Personally, I can empathize with this desire, for I have seen some Sunday school projects which were worked on with great fervency and dedication get crumpled, torn or left on the floor by their creators. On the other hand, parents do like to see immediate results and, especially if you are a new Sunday school, this is going to be a priority. If you do choose to do portfolios, make sure all of your parents know this is happening and that a day will be scheduled when they may discuss it with their child's teacher or principal and take the work home. Another offshoot of using a portfolio can be periodic exhibitions of projects around the church or in a certain area. This way, the entire congregation and guests can see the children's religious education in progress.

Having specific grades for specific categories is a good way to communicate that you do have certain expectations and goals for the children to accomplish. These should be in keeping with their particular level of development. The following is a list I have used in Minneapolis for K-6th grade. The children are given a rating of excellent, good, average, poor, not applicable or in progress in each of the following categories: 1. retains lesson; 2. participates in class; 3. listens w/o interrupting; 4. follows rules; 5. plays/works well with others; 6. adequate attention span; and 7. responsible for materials and property. I then have a section for any special comments.

Our 7th-12th grade class is the only one which has tests each Sunday on the previous week's lesson. Their report cards show the following: 1. percentage scored on each test; 2. preparation for class (did they have a notebook and pen?); 3. class participation; 4. behavior/attitude; and 5. comments. On items 2-4 they are rated as exceptional, satisfactory, or needs improvement.

As much as possible, try to set up specific times of the year when evaluations are sent out or parent/teacher conferences given.

Graduation and Reward

Every August before the new school year begins, we hold a graduation and teacher recognition ceremony. Since our classes are mostly divided into groups (1st-2nd, 3rd-6th grade, etc.), we only give a certificate of advancement when they leave one group and go on to the next. It may be nice to arrange something for all the students-perhaps two different kinds of certificates or a special pin or prize to those actually advancing, or maybe a party in class or after service.

Always publicly recognize your teachers, too. They are often the unsung heroes and heroines of our church. They need to feel appreciated and the rest of the congregation needs to know who they are and what they have given. Perhaps it will inspire and motivate others to take on this responsibility as well. In Minneapolis anyone who has taught during the school year gets a Certificate of Appreciation presented during the graduation ceremony. This is always immediately after service on the last Sunday in August.

This is the end of my series on Sunday service development. I hope it has been of service to all those concerned with religious education. My intent for this series was to offer a starting point in Sunday school organization, to present ideas, information and tools, and to motivate. This series was aimed not only at parents and Sunday school teachers but at church leaders as well. May your Sunday school be the initiator and innovator of our church's development; may it have vision and be creative.

Self Check Sheet For Sunday School Teachers

Manner and Appearance:

Am I courteous in speech and action?
Am I well-groomed?
Could my grooming be improved upon?
Am I self-assured?
Do I give the impression of having feelings of inferiority?
Do I give the impression of feeling superior?
Am I happy and usually optimistic?
Do I frequently appear dissatisfied?

Voice:

Is my voice mellow, well-modulated?
Is my voice harsh?
Is my voice weak?
Is my enunciation poor?

Rapport:

Do I exhibit discretion and tact?
Do I gain the confidence and respect of others?
Do I work constructively with all school personnel?
Do I offer warmth, protection, unspoken understanding?

Initiative:

Am I resourceful and often begin new work for myself?
Am I alert to opportunities to interest children?
Am I reluctant to go ahead unless directed?

Adjustment:

Am I able to assume responsibility readily?
Am I reluctant to assume responsibility?
Do I appear to be insecure?
Am I able to maintain control based on understanding of children?

Dependability:

Am I prompt?
Am I frequently late?
Do I have the ability to carry through (stick-to-it-iveness)?
Do I assume my share of responsibility for materials, supplies and equipment?

Organization:

Am I planful-both long-term and daily?
Do I need assistance in organizing groups of children?
Do I know how to "set the stage" for effective teaching?

Easing the Capital Gains Tax Bite with a Charitable Remainder Trust

by Garry Barker

With the stock market having reached an all-time high, many investors may be faced with a new concern-capital gains taxes on appreciated assets. Even though they would like to take gains from appreciated assets and diversify into other areas which have the potential for appreciation or which may potentially provide higher yields, some investors feel "locked in" to ownership of appreciated assets because of the resulting federal and state capital gains taxes.

One possible solution for these investors may be a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT). A CRT is used to gift appreciated assets to an investor's favorite charity, but before these assets are donated to the charity, the investor (grantor) enjoys several significant benefits, including freedom from capital gains taxes.

How a CRT Works

A CRT is created to provide lifetime or term payments to an individual, or other individuals such as a surviving spouse, with the remainder eventually payable to a designated charity. The payments may be in the form of an annual fixed annuity (annuity trust) or a variable annual payment (unitrust) equal to a percentage (at least 5%) of the value of the trust fund revalued each year.

Because the CRT is tax exempt, appreciated assets transferred from an individual to the trust can be sold by the trust free of capital gains taxes. Assets in the trust can then be reinvested into a high-quality, diversified portfolio, which can generate increased income. An immediate income tax charitable deduction, equal to the value of the charity's remainder interest, is generated by the gift to the charitable trust. In addition, the transaction can provide for significant estate tax savings.

A CRT Example

As a hypothetical example, assume that Mr. and Mrs. Smith, both age 54, own XYZ stock with a market value of $100,000. Their cost basis for this stock was $10,000. They are retiring and wish to diversify their investments as well as increase spendable cash flow.

XYZ's current dividend yield is 2%, or $2,000 a year. Sale of the stock would result in federal capital gains taxes of $25,200, based on the current federal capital gains tax of 28%. (At present, a proposal is pending in Congress to lower the capital gains tax. This proposal may or may not pass.) An additional $2,000 could go for state income tax. This could leave the Smiths with a balance of $72,800 to put to work toward their goals.

In addition, under the above scenario, upon the death of the survivor of the two spouses, it is assumed that Mr. or Mrs. Smith could face estate taxes which could reach 40% of the balance of their estate.

With a CRT, the Smiths would enjoy several immediate financial benefits. First, they would avoid capital gains taxes so that the entire $100,000 could be invested in a more diversified and income- producing portfolio. If the CRT is a unitrust and pays them a variable annual payment equal to 7% of the value of the trust fund each year, they would receive a $7,000 first-year payment, considerably more than the $2,000 they were receiving from the original asset's dividends. The $7,000 first-year payment could rise (or fall) depending on the investment performance of the remaining assets in the trust. In addition, the Smiths would receive an income tax deduction for their future gift to charity of approximately $13,859, assuming the IRS' interest rate is currently 7.4%.

Upon the death of the surviving beneficiary, the survivor's estate would enjoy a federal estate tax charitable deduction for federal tax purposes equal to the value of the trust assets which went to the charity. Thus, assuming the trust's value is $100,000 at the death of the survivor (and assuming the survivor's tax bracket at death is 45%), his or her beneficiaries would benefit from a $45,000 estate tax reduction because of the trust.

When considering CRTs, many investors are concerned about leaving assets to heirs. While assets in a CRT must go to the designated charity upon the death of the surviving beneficiary, the increased cash flow and tax savings which result from the trust may be used to purchase a life insurance policy in an irrevocable life insurance trust. With a properly structured life insurance trust, premiums are paid with part of the increased cash flow and with tax dollars which were saved by virtue of the charitable deduction. Proceeds of the policy are outside the estate and are not subject to estate or inheritance taxes. In addition, proceeds are received income tax free.

A Word of Caution

A Charitable Remainder Trust is an irrevocable trust. That means once you transfer money into the trust, you cannot take it back. Some of the money will eventually go to charity. Although the trust offers some flexibility-the charity can be changed, additional assets can be contributed (to a unitrust only), the trustee can be changed-it is important to understand how the CRT works for specific situations.

Whether the goal is to ease the capital gains tax bite, increase spendable income, make a contribution to a favorite charity, or a combination of the three, investors may wish to explore the opportunities available with a CRT. As one of the few remaining tax- saving financial planning alternatives, the Charitable Remainder Trust offers the investor benefits today, while providing financial and philanthropic benefits for tomorrow.

If you would like more information, please write, care of Unification News.

This article does not constitute tax advice. Investors should consult their personal tax advisors before making any tax-related investment decisions. Information and data in this report were obtained from sources considered reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and the giving of the same is not to be deemed a solicitation on Dean Witter's part with respect to the purchase or sale of securities or commodities.

December Meeting of the Association of Jewish Unificationists

by Andrew Wilson-Nutley, NJ

Monday evening, Dec. 11, saw the end-of-year meeting of the Association of Jewish Unificationists (AJU) at the HSA Headquarters building in New York City. The meeting was begun in prayer by Dr. Andrew Wilson, who has been taking the leading role in organizing the AJU since Mother inspired its formation in November 1992 at the time of her WFWP speech in Jerusalem.

As we reflected on this eventful year and on our future direction, two themes were paramount: on the micro level, how to establish ourselves as tribal messiahs; and on the macro level, the rapidly advancing providence.

We received this inspiration for our personal direction: Dare to be an individual and establish your own material foundation. Whatever it takes, we must become prosperous. We should be able to hold up our heads before our families, for whom material wealth is the primary measure of personal worth. They do not readily understand the value of a life of poverty and sacrifice. Jacob made sure to gain material possessions before returning to face Esau, for he knew what his brother could appreciate. For some, this call to tribal messiahship may conflicts with the demands of church missions, demanding hard choices.

The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin was the other big topic. His funeral was very moving. He was killed on the very day Father was supposed to speak in Great Britain. We discussed how in 1948, when Father's outreach to Christianity was blocked and Great Britain lost her position as the Eve nation, all Britain's colonies (her children) were divided: the partition of India and Pakistan, apartheid in South Africa, and the separation of Palestine between Arab and Jew. Was the death of Rabin indemnity for Britain's latest failure? Moreover, we noted how Rabin's death has finally brought national criticism down upon the more stiff-necked factions of the Orthodox Jewish community. They had transgressed against God's hope for Israel by trying to block Mother's speech just 3 years before. Judaism has been divided between Cain and Abel, but the relative positions have switched since the '70s, with the more secular (or "progressive") Jews who seek peace with the Palestinians now in the position of Abel.

Regarding the Palestinians: Dr. Wilson described Yassir Arafat's recent speech at Harvard, in which he described his motivation for wanting to make peace. A few years ago, his small plane crashed and only he survived. At that moment God spoke to him, saying his life had been spared so that he could take up the mission of a peacemaker. Ever since this "road to Damascus" experience, Arafat has been braving enemies within his own ranks in order to do God's will. Father has often said that he is working for peace in the Middle East. Who knows what other secret providences God is working to this end?

Anyone interested in participating in the AJU may contact Dr. Wilson at: Encyclopedia Project, 4 West 43 Street, New York, NY 10036. Telephone: (212)869-5879 or (201)661-0469.

Coping with Depression: One Layman's Strategy (synchronicitically speaking)

by Carlton L. Johnson-Miyazaki-ken, Japan

A good friend ended a nice letter to me with a casual reference to the bout he was having, recently, with depression. Anyone else, out there?

Depression! Ugh!

While I am, by nature, and tend to be (usually) the incurable optimist, there are times when the awesomeness of the task before us hits me upside the head and seems to stop me in my tracks. Such a moment came upon me a few days ago, a feeling that was exasperated by a visit to the local video store here in Japan. Just to see the clout that the adversary has in promoting selfish joy-and-happiness compared to the trickle of truthful entertainment and God-centered joy-and- happiness in the media-this sight alone is enough to knock some of the wind out of my sails. But in those moments, I turn my sights towards the direction of the emanations of Truth, Beauty and God-ness.

I begin to seek God's own feelings and try to understand how God could continue in the face of such little response, for so many centuries. I begin to seek out some slight inferences of communication from True Parents, by dream or prayer or video or literature. And usually an answer comes, often with surprising clarity and surprising relevance to the moment.

In this particular case at the video store, I came across a CD (here, in Japan, they rent CDs for you to take home and record!) which has a lot of healing vibes. And while the brother is not totally on the mark, his aim is pretty good. So I recommend this tape, with certain qualifications, as a therapeutic meditation for certain bouts of depression. Particularly the cuts: "Don't Cry" and "If I Could." The CD is entitled "Seal II."

A few words for thought with regards to depression and the blind spots of this particular artist (ideas gleaned from a recent I Ching reading-Wilhelm/Baynes edition):

When the good elements of society occupy a central position and are in control, the evil elements come under their influence and change for the better. Let us keep walking the walk to bring about these conditions in our hearts, in our families, neighborhoods, local environments, states and nations, and in the world and cosmos-starting with the man in the middle. When the spirit of heaven rules in man, his animal nature also comes under its influence and takes its appropriate place.

One great challenge is to possess enough greatness of soul to be able to bear with imperfect people, even the imperfect influences within ourselves. For in the hands of a great master, no material is unproductive; he can find use for everything. You are the great master. And you may hit the slump of depression on a regular basis. No plain exists which is not followed by a slope. No going exists which is not followed by a return. Everything on earth is subject to change. But if we continue mindful of the laws of give and take action, mindful of the "Big Picture" of the Ideal of Creation, the Fall and the Course of Restoration, then we remain persevering and make no mistakes. As long as a man's inner nature remains stronger and richer than anything offered by external fortune, as long as he remains inwardly superior to fate, fortune will not desert him.

We would all do well to regularly try to distill the truths that we come by, for the sake of others who are coming along after us. Then our struggles and our depressions take on more meaning and value and we find renewed strength and zeal. We can take pleasure in giving one more kernel of truth to one more friend. The sage is inexhaustible in his readiness to teach mankind and sustains and cares for all people. He excludes no part of humanity. This thought we would do well to pass on to our children.

All too often, you may feel the gap between the way you would like to raise your children and the way you actually are. You are the sage. And the are the "sagelets"! One great value that I have noticed from having children is that they make me aware of the deeper qualities of love which I am able to activate for another. Then I am judged by how much I am actually making use of this great ability for nourishing spiritual children. Are we doing our spiritual stretches every day? Are we toning our spiritual love muscles for the sake of giving true love to everyone we meet with the same intensity that we want to give our undivided love and attention to our physical children?

Actually, I do not worry so much about whether or not I am giving enough love to our kids. I know that I love them dearly, because I love God and they are God's children. He has simply charged me with the awesome responsibility of taking care of them, protecting them from the bad influences all around them and raising them up to the be true-love, messianic stewards in their Father's Garden. For this purpose I am more concerned about whether or not they can see and learn from our effort to accomplish the Three Blessings in and around the lives of the people in our immediate environment. By focusing our love outwards, in this way, we are doing the best service to them. Our love becomes hotter and our sensitivity towards their needs are reflected in our sensitivity towards all the people we try to love- everyone.

These are a few thought on how I deal with depression, when it manages to rear its ugly head. But music is one of my best weapons for keeping this opponent at bay...making my own and listening to others'. More often than not, our place is filled with music of one sort or another. While still only a hobby for me, my original music recently landed me a spot in a local rock festival and for a live interview and one selection being broadcasted, I aim for the demons inside, and the ones bugging my people in the world at large. Thanks to MFT, I am free to take my tapes to the streets, shop to shop. Putting a message in some music, and getting out there: this way is great for witnessing and getting out of one's doldrums. [Yes, tapes are available; see ad for "cj & co / IN FLIGHT."] Sometimes you just need to jam with your kids! "Turn it on and turn it up, and work till you shake the devil out you!" The group "Take 6" is good for a lift....

When we consider the consummation of human history, we come to understand that, naturally, people of this age fall into internal insecurity, terror and chaos due to the shallowness of our ideals and ideologies. We need to be always sharpening our sensitivity toward spiritual things. In this way we come into deeper and deeper understanding of the beauty of the providence. Through this understanding we get that "grip" that allows us to respond to this providence, in spite of the many apparent discrepancies we may face between the new-born view of truth and our old way of seeing things. Through humble prayer, and by directing our efforts towards a spiritual purpose, we may ascertain truth which becomes one with our spirit, producing that true heavenly joy deep within our heart. In this way we find freedom from depression and find the way to true salvation, the true consummation of human history.

About the love explosion (an aside), bonding in the holy of holies: This moment is one of the most sacred offerings I can offer to God. I would like God to make that final thrust together, through me, through us, through the seed into the egg, through space and time, throughout future generations, ten thousand years! A child born of that thrust has a special advantage (I would imagine).

About pledge: I do not remember a time when we did not regularly engage the boys in pledge. We have pledge every morning, together with the boys, followed by prayer and a mini-sermon in language and concepts they can understand. We do not always have pledge on time, at 5am-depending on our schedule the night before. Let us challenge the highest standards.

"Letter to a Friend" might become a consistent column, here, if anyone else out there cares to engage in more "heart to heart." Go ahead, write me! I tend to respond promptly, in kind, with a personal letter. Some issues I may choose to address publicly, as I have done here, for my anonymous friend. God willing, a meaningful ministry might spring forth, herein.

Carlton Johnson, 799-20 Oaza Miyamura, Mimata-cho, Miyazaki- ken 889-19, Japan

Better than the Sunday Comics: Family & Friends Prayer Breakfast

By John R. Williams
Family Federation Director and Tribal Messiah in New Jersey

As a veteran of many clergy gatherings called Prayer Breakfasts, I always thought it was odd that the only praying that generally took place was over the breakfast itself! So some friends and I have adopted the idea for our families and we have found something we like better even better than hanging out in pajamas over the comics on Sunday morning (or-even more decadent- in bed).

All you need are the following:

Two or more friends nearby;
Bagels, muffins or other breads, fruit and drinks;
Willingness to prepare a little inspirational message regularly;
Willingness to prepare a little Sunday School class regularly;
Willingness to clean up your place regularly to have everybody over.

For that small investment, you get:

Bite-sized pieces of inspiration to take with you all week, to supplement your Sunday Service habits;

Your kids get intimate Sunday School lessons to supplement whatever they may get in a larger setting;

A homey way to share your faith with neighbors;

Practice in giving out God's words, and the boost in self- confidence that goes with it;

The pleasure of having your family and friends receive your convictions and inspirations;

Seeing your spouse and friends as instruments of divine words;

Your children feeling a part of an intimate community of faith;

Free breakfast on a regular basis;

Good company and stimulating talk on a regular basis;

Building a small community of families that can support each other in many other ways.

So what do you do (if you haven't guessed already)? You and your friends set up a schedule to rotate visiting each others' homes every Sunday morning. We do it from 9:00 to 10:45, to allow time to go to a larger church service. Our community involves six families, which means about ten adults and between seven to ten small children (3 to 10 years of age) each week.

The host family that week prepares a simple breakfast for everyone of breads, fruit, juices and hot drinks, and sets up two gathering places for adults and children. My apartment is so small that one group is in the living room and the other is at the adjacent dining room, but noise doesn't present too much of a problem.

One of the host couple prepares an inspirational message of about twenty minutes, as well as songs. In our group, one spouse gives the message while the other is responsible for food, and these tasks alternate so both give talks regularly. Often my wife, Cathy, and I prepare the message after early morning Pledge service, while the other gets breakfast ready.

The message can be as simple or as creative as you want, with readings from various scriptures or other books, inspirational music, whatever (one time I felt moved to play a song from Pocahontas). The key element is sincerity and sharing from the heart what God has given you. You'll be surprised what is drawn out of you, given an intimate and interested audience.

Sunday school is conducted by the host from the previous week. Again spouses rotate this task. This can be as simple as reading an inspiring story with an accompanying craft project, or going over a Bible story, according to age group. A mixed age crowd can adopt the older children as helpers to the lesson for the younger ones. Dealing with kids is more frightening for me than grownups, but the stakes aren't high and the worst that can happen is that the kids hit the bagels early while the adults are still talking. The best that always happens is that the children experience their parents and "aunts" and "uncles" sharing their faith and deepest values. This is the ideal situation for religious instruction, whatever the level of skill of the instructor.

If you've already gotten into the habit of having twice-monthly family worship evenings, this is a similar concept, only expanded to include friends and neighbors. If you haven't yet made that a routine, it is only a short step from this type of regular gathering.

The general run of our morning is that we start by 9:10, and the kids go to their lesson after songs and prayer at about 9:20. By 9:40, the adults have begun sharing their comments on the sermon until their children run in at about 10:00, and all join in breakfast and conversation until it is time to go.

To be honest, having been raised without the habit of attending church, I still have to push myself to go to a large worship service (I am lucky enough to live in an area with a substantial Unificationist worship service). However, I surprise myself with how much I look forward every week to this small gathering of friends and families to share food, chitchat, and how God has moved in our lives. It's a great way to start the week, and you can still catch up on the comics later in the day.

8,000 Blessing Families Mark 13th Anniversary

by Bill Selig and Kate Tsubata-Washington, D.C.

Some 60 husbands and wives celebrated their 13th anniversary of the 1982 Blessing in the Washington, D.C. Unification Church Cultural Hall on December 2, 1995. Couples brought one-dish delicacies to contribute to the banquet, and several shared their talents to bring joy to the occasion.

Guests of honor were 777 Couple representatives Hugh and Nora Spurgin, who spoke on the topic "Blessed Family Life in the Completed Testament Age." With wisdom and warmth, they shared observations on some of the challenges of the present time in our lives, as well as humorous comments on those to come.

The event was organized by the 8,000 Couple Blessed Family Association of the Washington, D.C. area. Bill & Donna Selig, Metro Chaircouple, Paul & Jutta Tobkin (recently moved from Virginia to Ohio), Mehrdad & Anna Mizani (Maryland), and Bob & Diane Abendroth (of Washington, D.C.). Whether Blessed in Madison Square Garden, on July 1, 1982, or in Chamshil Gymnasium in Seoul on October 14, 1982, the 8,000 couples number some 214 families in the Metro area.

Purpose of BFA

At the seventh celebration of our blessing in 1989, then-President James Baughman explained the purpose of the Blessed Family Association. "The BFA is not a formal organization. It is more accurately defined as an informal gathering of brothers and sisters where we can support each other in an horizontal way. In other words, it is not the same as the [Unification] Church hierarchy. The Association is very important to understand because it doesn't matter what position one holds in the Church-president, state leader, fundraiser-we are all equal in this Association. We share similar concerns and the need to support one other."

At the same event, Hyo Jin Nim emphasized the vertical nature of the Blessing. "The Blessing is the beginning point of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, when we go to the spirit world, we will not go there because of some record or external achievement, but because of our Blessing. The key will be our blood lineage with the True Parents. That will be the connection that we will have to Heavenly Father when we go to spirit world."

Entertaining the couples were Fran and Yoshihiro Ichijo who harmonized on "The Rose," followed by a solo from Fran on "I will always love you" with some dancing too. Mehrdad Mizani, and his sons, Mehran and Arman, sang some original compositions, including one written for the recent "Pure Love" rally. Alex Colvin sang with his daughter Lyn several Christmas songs and an original song. Patsy Casino shared "Through the eyes of love."

Although disappointed that Rev. Chong Jik Woo was prevented from attending due to illness, the couples were happy to hear from our elder Blessing representatives, and to reminisce about our expectations at the moment, 13 years ago, when we stood and declared our vows before God and the world. So, once again, the couples stood and repeated those vows, grateful for the love of our True Parents which allowed us to be grafted onto the heavenly lineage. Again, we sang "The Song of the Banquet," with hearts of deep gratitude to have participated in that banquet of love.

The future

Finally, elections were held to choose new officers for the next term of office: 1996 to 1998. The new representatives are Francis & Wendy Buckingham (Metro Chaircouple), David & Stacy Urban (Washington, D.C.), Clark & Sylvia Eberly (Virginia), and Joe & Debbie Taylor (Maryland).

Congratulations to the new officers, and congratulations to all the 8,000 Blessed Couples, on the accomplishment of 13 years of Blessed marriage.

December 1995