The World Wishes True Parents a Happy Birthday!

Every year Unificationists around the world celebrate the birth of our True Parents which falls on the same lunar date, January 6, but in different years. This year True Parents celebrated their birthday on February 24. On Tuesday, Unificationists gathered locally to celebrate, wish True Parents a very happy birthday and hold them in their prayers. Here are the highlights of the local celebrations of this Holy Day in Korea, Canada and the United States.

Korea

Around 700 participants, including members of True Parents’ family, special emissaries, regional presidents, Cheon Il Guk special envoys, heads of providential organizations, church elders and Korean ministers, gathered at Cheon Jeong Gung on January 6, 2015 in the third year of Cheon Il Guk (February 24, 2015 by the solar calendar) to celebrate the beautiful and joyful birthday of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind.

Participants heard presentations on recent activities in the Philippines, Nepal and worldwide Universal Peace Federation (UPF) activities in 2014 before they welcomed True Mother with an offering of flowers. 

Representatives from 13 regions of the world presented True Parents with beautiful gifts following the ceremonial cake cutting by True Mother and Dr. Sun-jin Moon, Director-General of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) International.

Attendants then enjoyed a video presentation about True Parents’ recent activities in Las Vegas, followed by lunch for all the guests. Seven groups provided beautiful entertainment, enhancing the atmosphere of joy and harmony.

The audience received a special treat when the emcee invited True Mother to sing a song. Before singing, she opened her heart and shared words of wisdom with the audience. She encouraged everyone to invest in fulfilling their missions and in introducing True Parents to all of humanity. It was a touching and uplifting experience for all, which ended with three cheers of “Eok Mansei” (victory).

Canada

Toronto

More than 200 participants, including Ambassadors for Peace, local Unificationists and their guests, were invited to this year’s celebrations of the two Holy Days: True Heavenly Parent’s Day and True Parents’ birthday. Participants gathered at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Toronto on Saturday, February 21, with many local leaders in attendance, including current and former members of Parliament.

Rev. Moonshik Kim, National Leader of FFWPU-Canada, gave a beautiful presentation about True Parents’ life course, and Mr. Armand LaBarge, Vice President of Sun Moon University, gave his personal testimony about True Parents.

While the presenters testified to True Parents and the many contributions they made to humanity, the local officials also recognized the great work done by local Unificationists, inspired by the legacy of True Parents. Harinda Malhi, a member of the Provincial Parliament, gave plaques of gratitude to Dr. Moonshik Kim and Rev. Mitch Dixon, UPF central district leader, for UPF’s contribution to peace activities. New Ambassadors for Peace were also appointed.

Vancouver

On the other side of the country, celebrations took place in Vancouver at the Hilton Hotel on Sunday, February 22. The Vancouver church sent out more than 400 invitation letters and emails in preparation for the event. As a result, 12 new religious representatives participated in the celebration. The group was also honored to receive congratulatory messages from Members of Parliament Hon. Kennedy Steward and Hon. Alice Wong, and other local leaders.

The audience enjoyed speeches from Dr. Acharya Shrinath Prasad Dwivedi, who testified to True Parents as worldwide peace-makers who have worked hard in their interfaith and intercultural activities, and Dr. Moonshik Kim, who gave the same speech he had given in Toronto.  The participants then enjoyed dinner, followed by more personal testimonies of how True Parents touched the lives of local Unificationists. It was an emotional experience, and a good opportunity for many of the new guests as well as young Unificationists to learn more about True Parents and their life.

Unificationists invested a great deal of effort in preparation for both the Toronto and Vancouver events. Local Unificationists prepared for 40 days with prayer, collecting donations and outreach activities. The communities were thrilled at being able to honor True Parents and offer gratitude to them through these events.

United States

New York City

The FFWPU USA headquarters staff meet in the Grand Ballroom at the New Yorker Hotel, just like old times.

The National Ministry Team took time in their day to celebrate True Parents’ birthday together. They met in the New Yorker Hotel Grand Ballroom where True Father often spoke, and said a prayer together. Afterward, lunch and cake was shared before returning to work.

Barrytown, New York

Barrytown families had a meaningful celebration of the Holy Days together with a pledge service and Sunday Service based on scriptures from the Sermon on the Mount and True Father’s teaching about understanding true love from World Scripture Two.  After the service, they had a bountiful pot luck lunch with entertainment from local youth and Barrytown College students.  After this, Dr. Mickler gave an excellent lecture on True Parents’ work in Las Vegas with a lot of beautiful photography and quotes from True Father. The children then went sledding!

Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Family Church celebrates the Holy Days.

Although the day was very cold, the spirit was warm in the sanctuary at the Las Vegas Family Church.  More than thirty families came together to celebrate True Parents’ birthday.  Japanese missionaries, Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) members and others arrived early to help set up with decorations and activities, including a piñata for the children.  The tables overflowed with potluck contributions, and everyone arrived in a festive mood.  The entertainment was joyful and very international.  There were families from Korea, Japan, Latin America, the Philippines, and from many places in the U.S.  It was a wonderful reminder of how big True Parents’ family really is.  One brother remarked that any place can be your hometown when you have God and True Parents’ love in your heart.

The Las Vegas Family Church holds a picnic at the Cheon Hwa Gung.

Local pastor Rev. Ken Doo spoke about the meaning of True Parents’ birthday and spoke of his own personal experience with them. He reminded the congregation that a birthday is about giving gratitude for life, and that we should reflect on how much True Parents have given us in theirs.

After singing “Happy Birthday” and cutting a beautiful cake for True Parents, everyone enjoyed a BBQ meal.  Many new guests attended and were welcomed like family.  The children had a lot of fun hitting the piñata and playing dodgeball, while the adults socialized and made new friends.   “We could really feel the happiness and closeness of God and True Parents throughout the day,” said a local Unificationist.  It was a beautiful celebration and a reminder of the blessings that True Parents had given to everyone there.

Chicago

The Chicago Family Church cheers for victory.

Families in Chicago enjoyed a special celebration on Sunday, February 22, at the Al Hattendorf Center in Elk Grove Village. Close to 300 people gathered to hear a message from District Pastor Rev. Kazuo Takami entitled “Strive for True Love: When the Path Seems Dark and Gloomy.” In his message Rev. Takami highlighted the many accomplishments of True Parents and spoke about their difficult course to bring about their vision of peace.

Immediately following the presentation, the audience enjoyed special entertainment including songs, dance, and even magic tricks. After lunch, guests stayed to socialize and participate in a karaoke competition, Yute game, and games for the children. A joyful spirit was in the air, and it was a wonderful time to come together as a community to celebrate.

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Lena Yasutake gave a lovely Sunday Service on February 22, when the Family Church of Connecticut gathered to celebrate True Parents’ Birthday. Participants enjoyed a pot-luck lunch, followed by entertainment and a riveting game of Yute. Entertainers from the local community wowed the audience of over 150 people with dance, song, stand-up comedy, and instrumentals. It was a beautiful and joyful day offered up lovingly by the community to our Heavenly Parent and True Parents.

Atlanta

The Atlanta Family Church celebration service message was given by the Atlanta KEA pastor, Rev. Kyeoung Lae Ko.

Pastor and Mrs. Haruki Kimura officiated a Family Pledge service to begin the day with a prayerful spirit. Unificationists in Atlanta then viewed True Mother’s most recent video and listened to a special message given by Atlanta Korean Evangelical Association pastor Rev. Kyeoung Lae Ko. After the ceremonial cake cutting, the congregation enjoyed entertainment prepared by the young people in the community.  It was wonderful to see such exciting and creative presentations including humorous skits, a reading of True Parents’ words, songs and musical selections. The day concluded with celebratory cheers and a shared lunch.

South Florida

The Miami Family Church invited everyone for a picnic lunch in the park.

Unificationists in South Florida woke up early to say the Family Pledge and pray in honor of True Parents’ birthday. The community held a celebration on Sunday, February 22, which included a family picnic at the beach. Close to 60 people attended, including four guests. The picnic was organized by two of the younger members of the community and was a wonderful opportunity for the community to celebrate True Parents and one another.

The group enjoyed fellowship long into the afternoon, until the official program began with singing and a brief talk by Pastor Mari Curry. The message asked participants to reflect on their relationship with God in daily life. A thoughtful game of “reflection ball,” in which participants tossed a ball to one another while asking questions like, “How has God worked in your life?,” set an intimate tone.

Many participants shared moving testimonies, with one person exclaiming: “God has worked in my life this year by healing my relationship with my parents. I am so much closer to them.”   Another person said, “I am so grateful for the growth I experienced this year and the passion that has been put in my heart.” The experience was beautiful and brought the community closer together. As they shared their hopes, dreams and memories, the whole group could feel the presence of Heavenly Parent. The official program closed with a moving prayer, followed by lunch and more fun and games on the beach.

Kissimmee, North Florida

Unificationists in Kissimmee, Florida, celebrated on Sunday, February 22, at the Interfaith Community Center. A local music group, The Sensational Four, blessed the attendants with beautiful songs including one in Hebrew, and one in Swahili, both of which focused on the message of love and peace.

Rev. Emmanuel Souck spoke about God’s suffering at losing his children and True Parents’ long course to restore us all to our Heavenly Parent.  “Today we celebrate the holiest day in all the history of humankind. Oh, how blessed we are!” he said.

The community shared food from the offering table, danced, and enjoyed each other’s company while celebrating all the blessings made possible through True Parents.

Philadelphia

Unificationists in Philadelphia celebrate at the local church.

Unificationists in Philadelphia celebrated the Holy Days at their local church. They gathered as families to pray and spend some quality time together as a community.

Boston

Despite the worst snowfall in 50 years, the Boston Rockin’ Mommas warm up the crowd.

Despite heavy snow, the Boston Family Church celebrated True Parents’ birthday at the local church. They said a prayer and enjoyed a program of inspirational messages, entertainment and fellowship. 

Albany, New York

Sebastian and Mereth Huemer with the families of the Albany-Adirondack Family Church.

The Albany-Adirondack Family Church sends warm greetings and wishes a happy Heavenly Parent’s Day and True Parents’ birthday 2015 from wintry Albany to our True Parents and to families worldwide. They gathered as a community and held a small celebration together at their local church, complete with an offering table, prayers and fellowship to commemorate these two Holy Days.