The Words of the Burton Family
|
|
The Words of the Burton Family |
Left:
Rev. Moon writes 2011 motto in calligraphy. Right: Rev. and Mrs. Moon
offer a midnight prayer on God's Day 2011.
Since 1968, Unificationists have celebrated the first day of the year as True God's Day based on the Gregorian Calendar, however, in 2011 for the first time Unificationists around the world will celebrate this Holy Day centered on the lunar calendar, or Cheon-gi, that is, the "heavenly calendar," which True Parents, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, began observing as the Unification Church's sacred calendar in January 2010."
Thursday, February 3, 2011 (of the Gregorian calendar) will be celebrated as the second True God's Day according to the heavenly calendar. (See schedule of upcoming God's Day events below.)
On January 8, 2010, True Father spoke about this six-day celebration period saying: "This period represents the six-day period that was required for God's creation of the heaven and earth and a period that completes the providence of re-creation through which the Cain and Abel can be reconciled centering on the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, the king of kings. A new beginning will be made on the seventh day, after this six-day period."
According to these instructions, a "True Peace and Unity Cheon-bok Festival" is held as a seven-day celebration period, starting from the first day of the lunar new year, i.e. "True God's day," until the sixth day of the new year, which is the celebration of True Parents' Birthday.
The lunar New Year is determined by cycles of the moon and therefore the dates are moveable; each New Year commencing on the new moon, which usually occurs in the late January or February of the western Gregorian calendar. More than a quarter of the world's population celebrates the beginning of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, which is observed every year on the new moon of the first lunar month, about four to eight weeks before spring. According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, 2011 is the year of the rabbit, which is said by Chinese zodiacs to symbolize sensitivity, prudence, peace and wealth.
The Gregorian Calendar, used by European countries since 1582, is based on a solar system. Some Unificationists argue that the historical meaning of the solar and lunar calendars may be understood within the context of the polarity of male and female. The Greek Sun god, "Helios," was masculine. The word, "lunar," comes from "Luna," the Latin word for the moon which has always been associated with the feminine principle. Traditionally, "Sun" is masculine and "Moon" is feminine.
"This first Lunar Calendar True God's Day marks the beginning of honoring the feminine aspect of the duality of God, therefore the empowerment of Mother God, which is only natural since we are living in the 'Century of women' when True Mother is to be elevated to become the center of True love, True Unity, True Harmony and True Peace within the True Family. I believe this will usher in the era anticipating 2013, which is forecast to inaugurate the era of peace and reconciliation for all of humanity on the earth," according to longtime Unificationist Antonio Betancourt.
Following schedule contributed courtesy of Glenn Strait.
1. 44th True God's Day Midnight
Prayer
Date: 1st day of the 1st month by the heavenly calendar, in
the 2nd year of Cheon-gi (February 3, 2011), Thursday, at Midnight
Venue: Main Hall, Chung Pyung Heaven and Earth Training Center
2. Pledge Service for the 44th True
God's Day, 10th Anniversary of the Coronation of God's Kingship, and
True Parents' Birthday
Date: 1st day of the 1st month by the
heavenly calendar, in the 2nd year of Cheon-gi (February 3, 2011),
Thursday, at 8:00 am Venue: Main Hall, Cheon Jeong Gung
3. 28th Day of Victory of Love
Date:
2nd day of the 1st month by the heavenly calendar, in the 2nd year of
Cheon-gi (February 4, 2011), Friday, at 8:00 am
Venue: Main Hall,
Cheon Jeong Gung
4. True Parents' Birthday Celebratory
Luncheon
Date: 6th day of the 1st month by the heavenly calendar,
in the 2nd year of Cheon-gi (February 8, 2011), Tuesday, at 11:00
am
Venue: Main Hall, Chung Pyung Heaven and Earth Training Center
5. Cheonbok [Heavenly Blessing]
Festival
Date: 1st day of the 1st month by the heavenly calendar,
in the 2nd year of Cheon-gi (February 3, 2011) Thursday, at 3:00
pm
Venue: Main Sanctuary, Cheon Bok Gung
6. 1st Unificationism Choir Contest
Date: 3rd day, 1st month (February 5, 2011), Saturday, 4:00 pm
Venue:
3rd floor Grand Sanctuary, Cheon Bok Gung
7. Inter-religious performance
Date:
4th day, 1st month (February 6, 2011), Sunday, 4:00 pm
Venue: 3rd
floor Grand Sanctuary, Cheon Bok Gung
8. Dispute of Theism and Atheism
Date:
5th day, 1st month (February 7, 2011), Monday, 4:00 pm
Venue: 3rd
floor Grand Sanctuary, Cheon Bok Gung
9. Marriage Ceremony of Shin Hwa Nim,
(daughter of Je Jin Nim) and Yong-ung Alexander Kang
Date: 5th day
of the 1st month by the heavenly calendar, in the 2nd year of
Cheon-gi (February 7, 2011), Monday, at 11:00 am
Venue: Cheon Bok
Gung