Yong Cheol Song
May 4, 2011
Invitation: Special event, with Rev. Sun Myung Moon and family: TONIGHT, Wednesday, Athens, 7 pm If you cannot be there, please tell friends, colleagues, acquaintances; as in the Bible, Luke ch. 14, v. 16 and on.
"Cosmic Assembly for the Settlement of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind and for the Proclamation of the Word by God's Substantial Self."
Wednesday, May 4 at 7:30 pm, Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel, 115 Syngrou Ave, Athens 11745 Greece
Message from President Song
True Father is absolutely determined that he must give the Proclamation in Athens as the birthplace of European Civilization.
He told me (Bernadette Bellay Sattlberger) that this event is even more important than the one held in Rome!
All Families should mobilize at least one family member.
We must show our heart of absolute hyo seong (filial devotion) -- COME TO ATHENS!!!
Event Information
Venue Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel, 115 Syngrou Ave, Athens 11745 Greece
Date and Time Wednesday 4th May at 7:30 pm
Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, the founders of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), accompanied by the UPF executive leadership team, are currently conducting a speaking tour in Europe with the theme "Building a World of Universal Peace".
Programs have already been completed in Spain, Italy, and Norway. There will be further events in Turkey, the UK, Switzerland and Germany, after which they will travel to the US. Read More...
Father Moon, as he is known to many, recently turned 91, but his energy seems unflagging. It had been planned that Rev. and Mrs. Moon have a few days relaxing in Greece, but on Tuesday, April 3, he requested that an event be held in Athens as the birthplace of European Civilization, the next day, since his schedule requires he be in Turkey on May 5.
With not much more than 24 hours notice, and with only a fairly small group resident in Greece, UPF has arranged a room for 600 persons in the Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel and is sending an invitation to all in Europe, even beyond, who wish to see, and contribute to, a new birth of civilization, a 21st century Renaissance, to attend -- Wednesday evening, 7pm.
Preparing for this event through the night Father Moon exclaimed,
"I am here to set the fire not for sightseeing. This event is not for me but for the sake of the whole of Europe!"
Notes:
Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel, 115 Syngrou Ave, Athens 11745 Greece, t.+30 21 0930 0000
UPF European Office, Tim Miller and Peter Staudinger
UPF Founder Speaks in Madrid, Spain. April 25, 2011
The more than 700 people who attended the opening program of the tour in Europe are unlikely to soon forget the compelling sight of a man giving all he had despite being well into his tenth decade of life. His vitality, his parental love, profound insights, joyful stories, sad reflections, thrilling moments, facial expressions -- brought the audience to an intimate closeness. "Spain is a land of passion, and you should use this passion for God's will."
Earlier in the day, Father Moon had gone to Toledo, the old Spanish capital and the symbol of tolerance for centuries among Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Spain. The visit made a deep impact on him, and he referred to Toledo several occasions during the speech.
Father Moon's intention in his speech went far beyond the proclamation expressed in the printed text "Building a World of Universal Peace at a Time of Global Crisis" and became a much more intimate time of sharing and reflection with what felt like one family in the hall. "I care for all of you as your true Father," he said.
The Tour in Italy -- Rome, April 29, 2011
The prestigious conference facilities of the Marriott Rome Park Hotel provided the setting for Rev. Sun Myung Moon's third major address on this world tour. On April 29, the beautiful, spacious room was filled with around a thousand people who came from all over Italy, many having left from cities in Northern Italy early that same morning. By the time Father Moon arrived the hall was completely full, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and expectation.
Among the participants were about 70 Ambassadors for Peace, who brought with them many guests. Religious leaders representing Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and Buddhism offered readings and prayers expressing the essence of their religions in a most spiritual and beautiful way. A nun who had served as a missionary in poor countries for 45 years moved the audience to tears through her reading of the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.
Father Moon radiated love as bright as the sun on the stage. He spoke for about an hour and 45 minutes, and nobody moved from the hall until the end. I was on stage as Father and Mother Moon received a plaque with the words "The Greatest Love of All" from an Ambassador for Peace, and I cannot forget the smile that Father Moon gave as he was offering his hand to me.
"I'm grateful for this night's life-changing experience," commented Antonio Imeneo, High Commissioner of the World Parliament for Security and Peace. "Rev. Moon is a true man of God who not only preaches but also lives what he preaches."
UPF Founder Speaks in Oslo, May 1, 2011
That the UPF Founders Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon should set their eyes on Oslo, Norway, was an awesome surprise and blessing for Scandinavian Ambassadors for Peace and Unificationists. Having them as guests is a huge blessing but also a big responsibility. Their visit coincided with the UPF and Women's Federation for World Peace European Leadership Conference taking place in the Stortinget (the Parliament) in Oslo the same weekend.
The first evening, our international Chairman, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, addressed the 120 participants and elaborated on the role of religion: "Some study and view religion with academic eyes as an outsider, viewing it as a phenomenon, but religion is more than a phenomenon and should not be viewed at a distance but rather as a means for all to discover God." The morning had seen impressive presentations on the theme "Towards Lasting Peace in a World of Rapid Change", including top speakers from Norway's International Affairs and Peace Institutes.
Dr. Thomas Walsh, UPF's International President, guided the moving inter-religious prayers expressed by Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh representatives. Major Nils Steen Egelien, who served in the Korean War and is President of the Norwegian Korean War Veterans, spoke touchingly of his love for Korea, its people, its culture, and the phoenix-like life of Rev. Moon. Dr. Wim van Eekelen (former Dutch Defence Minister) placed Father Moon's UPF work in the context of European efforts to make peace after the devastation of two world wars, through changing the context and understanding others.
All led beautifully to Rev. Hyung Jin Moon's moving testimony to his parents' love and dedication for the liberation of God and humanity in their role as the True Parents.
Father Moon's message was passionately delivered and peppered with interesting extemporaneous remarks. "I am over 90 years old, why should I come all the way to Norway? Because I know what I'm talking about. I was taught by God, and have the responsibility to teach the world. I can't bear to keep it to myself. I need to teach the world. People who pray know what I am talking about.
See many messages of appreciation and support at the links above, including from Dr. W.F. (Wim) van Eekelen, Dutch elder statesman, former diplomat, Minister of Defense, and Secretary General of the Western European Union:
Ladies and gentlemen, Oslo is a city of "peace" and Norway an active member of the UN, with a great performance in peacekeeping. Earlier today, my wife and I visited the Nobel Institute; a postcard we bought there reads: "Life's most urgent question is what are you doing for others." This is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but who else have we heard say this again and again and again? Father Moon!
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but its tradition of democracy, transparency, good governance, and NGOs in support of an active life in society are strong. Norwegian society is rules-based, and these rules are established by majority voting. In Europe, we understood that we needed to end wars -- and this led to European integration. We can learn from this process. Rather than attacking problems head on, we should change the context and understand the other.
Since being involved with UPF as an Ambassador for Peace, I have admired their principles and balanced programs, such as the UPF Middle East Peace Initiative. My best wishes to the Moon family, and especially to Father and Mother Moon -- theirs is a great initiative, which I support wholeheartedly.
Luke, chapter 14
1: One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.
2: And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.
3: And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?"
4: But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go.
5: And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?"
6: And they could not reply to this.
7: Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,
8: "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him;
9: and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10: But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, `Friend, go up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.
11: For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
12: He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid.
13: But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,
14: and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
15: When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
16: But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many;
17: and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, `Come; for all is now ready.'
18: But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.'
19: And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.'
20: And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
21: So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, `Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.'
22: And the servant said, `Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
23: And the master said to the servant, `Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
24: For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
25: Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them,
26: "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27: Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28: For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
29: Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30: saying, `This man began to build, and was not able to finish.'
31: Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32: And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace.
33: So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
34: "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored?
35: It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."