This Week Features:
Atlanta Family Church, Georgia
Birmingham Family Church, Alabama
Jacksonville Family Church, Florida
Las Vegas Family Church, Nevada
Louisiana Family Church, Louisiana
New York District, New York
Orlando Family Church, Florida
Every weekend for the months of August and September, thousands of families and individuals across America are participating in Special Grace Ceremonies to experience forgiveness, love, and unity through receiving the newly established Cheon Il Guk Holy Wine from True Parents.
In this article series, communities throughout the nation share their experiences and sincere testimonies while receiving this Special Grace.
Las Vegas Family Church, Nevada
The Las Vegas Family Church held a Special Grace Ceremony in conjunction with a Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony on August 19 at the International Peace Education Center.
Atlanta Family Church, Georgia
Contributed by Myrna Lapres
On Sunday, August 21, the Atlanta Family Church held a joint ceremony for the Fourth Anniversary of True Father’s Seonghwa and the Special Grace Ceremony. There was a beautiful atmosphere in the sanctuary, as families entered together to completely fill all of the pews. The praise team helped prepare the atmosphere through beautiful songs and the service included a message by District Pastor Rev. Gary Chidester, prayer by Pastor Kimura, and three cheers of Eog Mansei by Rev. Tom Cutts. Emcee Myrna Lapres guided the families through the offering of repentance and resolutions and the Holy Wine Ceremony. The video of True Mother’s prayer over the Holy Items concluded the event. It was a powerful ceremony that offers us the opportunity to move forward as a community. The meal shared following the ceremony had the spirit of a wonderful, heavenly family reunion.
Jacksonville Family Church, Florida
The Jacksonville Family Church had a Special Grace Ceremony on Sunday, August 21. A total of 32 participants were in attendance.
Pastor Richard Sapp officiated the program, which included educational videos on the meaning of the Holy Items and the internal meaning of this Special Grace from True Parents. The singing of “Amazing Grace” after two Holy Songs was very appropriate for the occasion.
There was a holiness in the hall that could be felt as each family offered their resolutions and proceeded to receive the Holy Wine. The video of True Mother’s Benediction Prayer was very moving. Peer and Terezina Brunnschweiler were the officiating couple for the Holy Wine Ceremony. Paul Iversen did a superb job as the AV technician. Peer, Karen Iversen, and her son, Micah, led us in three rousing cheers of Eog Mansei.
A new member who joined this month, Angela Freeman, also participated. We are also proud of two young second-generation Unificationists who are currently participating in international activities. Aki Ino is in Korea for a 40-day high school workshop, and Micha Iversen has entered his second year of Next Generation Academy (NGA), where he has done a mission to Africa, as well as visiting schools with an anti-bulling program.
Lastly, we took a group photo and adjourned to a sumptuous potluck lunch. The lunch generated a upbeat atmosphere which continued into the afternoon.
Louisiana Family Church, Louisiana
Contributed by John Monestere
On August 21, the Louisiana Family Church held the Special Grace Ceremony in Laplace, Louisiana at Pastor John Monestere’s home. 18 participants, including six Blessed Central Families and six adult second-generation Unificationists, were in attendance.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrus drove over 180 miles to receive the Special Grace. Their daughter, Tiffany, received the Special Grace in Dallas, Texas. They are committing themselves to support the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), as well as Tribal Messiah activities in Lake Charles.
Despite the difficulties that recent floods brought to the community, all families and participants made tremendous effort to participate in the ceremony.
Pastor John Monestere shared, “All honor and glory to Heavenly Parent and True Parents. Thank you, True Mother, for pleading with Heaven on our behalf so that we could receive such a Special Grace! Last week a great portion of Louisiana was inundated with floods. It appeared at some point to make more sense to cancel and reschedule the Special Grace Ceremony. At least a third of those in attendance today had the probability of contenting with the aftermath of a 1000-year event which at best might be a bit inconvenient, but could easily be an impossible trip of 60-180 miles.”
Birmingham Family Church, Alabama
Contributed by Keishin Yamada
The Birmingham Family Church held their Special Grace Ceremony on August 21 with 11 people in attendance. It was a beautiful ceremony filled with a rich spiritual environment as background music played during the program.
One participant shed tears of joy as True Mother gave the Benediction Prayer, and others showed gratitude for the compassion of True Parents. The Resolution Forms were burned at the end of the program. We had a wonderful dinner at the end of the ceremony with a cake cutting.
New York District, New York
Contributed by Rev. Edner Pierre-Louis
The New York District held the Special Grace Ceremony at Camp Sunrise, New York on Sunday August 21. With over 300 in attendance, participants by and large dressed for the occasion.
The musical accompaniment by Jonathan Gullery and song leadership by Steve Honey was absolutely exceptional. What a high atmosphere they created. All families received the Holy Wine, and the eight pastors of the New York Family Churches were bequeathed the Holy Items for their families and for multiplication among their congregations. Beginning on August 28, ceremonies will begin on the local level. The entire program was done ceremonially: Holy Songs, Cheon Il Guk Anthem, Greeting of True Parents, Family Pledge, and the reading of True Mother’s Benediction Prayer. Vice President of FFWPU, Miilhan Stephens, also took the podium to thank everyone for coming and shared about the coming 40th Washington Monument Rally anniversary. At the end, we recognized all the young people who graduated school this year and invited them up to cut the cake.
My wife, Juanita Pierre-Louis, and I emceed the event. Fumiko Balcomb was present, along with all the pastors of the New York community. The ceremony lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Knowing they were coming to camp, participants then dressed down for some camp fun. 
Orlando Family Church, Florida
Five families in Orlando participated in the Special Grace Holy Wine Ceremony at the Orlando Family Church on August 21.
After the ceremony, everyone gave three cheers of Eog Mansei.
We enjoyed watching Peace TV and the Weekly Update with images of the Fourth Anniversary of True Father’s Seonghwa and all the activities in Korea.
Afterwards, we celebrated the Fourth Anniversary of True Father’s Seonghwa with lunch and the cutting of a cake.
