Pilgrims Reach Plymouth
The God’s Hope for America Pilgrimage completed its Pilgrim Mini Tour stopping at Bridgeport University, Plymouth Rock and Boston Commons.
New Haven, Connecticut marked the 32nd Holy Ground stop for the God’s Hope for America Pilgrimage. Here, tour participants learned about Nathan Hale, a native son of Connecticut. It was poignant to think of the determination of such a brilliant young man of 21 saying that his only regret was that he “had only one life to give for his country.” From there, those on the bus and many at the New Haven Holy Ground, gathered just outside Danbury Prison. Here a providentially historical occasion occurred as Dr. Balcomb kicked-off the “Recognition of Injustice and Apology.
Later we went to the University of Bridgeport and Neil Salonen reminded us of how Father Moon was not simply a religious leader, but that he was expressing a God-centered way of life in all areas.
Prayer at Plymouth Rock
The wonderful Holy Ground Ceremony in Rhode Island began with a prayer given by the previous Providence pastor, Dmitry Vitchilsky, followed by a reading by Mary Giossi, a Mayflower descendant. Afterwards the participants enjoyed the company of new and old friends and testimonies were given by those who had been travelling on the bus. Charles and Clark, new Unificationists, gave inspirational testimonies of finding God, while Hannah, Unificationist-born, stressed the need to inherit all that was built.
The group then headed to Plymouth Rock where they prayed at the rock, toured the town of Plymouth and the Mayflower replica, and enjoyed an ice cream party and waterside shops. They spent some time talking to people about the purpose of the pilgrimage, reminding themselves in the process that we are all pilgrims.
The March for God’s Hope
Over 450 people met the bus at the Boston Commons, the oldest city park In America, for a stirring event with the Boston Family Church band and noteworthy speeches. Archbishop George Augustus Stallings Jr. founder of the Imani Temple and featured as a leading African-American leader in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., called the gathering a celebration of “God’s Hope for America, an indivisible nation under God, conceived in liberty and established on the foundation of justice for all.” He explained how True Father came to America willing to face whatever serious adversity he might encounter. “Rev. Moon was God-driven!” he exclaimed. The pilgrims then marched through the streets of Boston to the Holy Ground singing and holding up banners the whole way.
Pilgrims Port
The bus made its way to Kittery, Maine and gathered in John Paul Jones Historical Park, a small park in the middle of a neighborhood. Jim Hughes stated that Maine is God’s country. Francisco, a new Unificationist of the community gave a heartfelt prayer in Spanish. Cars that drove by honked in encouragement. Scott Simonds spoke about the history of Maine and how it has the longest coastline. He explained that True Father said Maine is shaped like a handle; if Maine can come together under God, then it can scoop the whole country up and God can claim America.
The pilgrimage made its way to its final stop for this part of the tour, Portsmouth, New Hampshire and ended the day. Memorial Park is a peaceful park in Portsmouth. Here, Pastor Heather Thalheimer of the Faith Fusion Family Church read from True Father’s speech encouraging us to read it over and over through many voices so that we may understand more of the nuances of his message to the world.
The Pilgrimage continues on to the Unification Theological Seminary, Niagara Falls and to the states of the Great Lakes. Visit the #godshopeforamerica website and search # godshopeforamerica on twitter and facebook to read up on the tour.