Interfaith community to celebrate Day of Peace, remember Al Krass

BRISTOL - The Interfaith Community of Lower Bucks (ICLB) invites the public to celebrate The International Day of Peace at Silver Lake Nature Center on Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Starting with a Native American prayer offered by Barbara Bluejay Michalski, participants will “cultivate peace” by helping to plant trees.

Peace participants will return to the nature center to share a potluck meal and engage in conversation. A sing-along will take place followed by the presentation of the inaugural ICLB Peace Prize. This annual prize will be given to commemorate the many peace efforts made by the Rev. Alfred C. Krass, who was a leader of the Buxmont Coalition for Peace Action and a number of Lower Bucks organizations.

The Rev. Krass, who passed away in 2010, was the pastor of United Christian Church in Levittown from 1986 to 1999 and was the founder of the Lower Bucks Center for Church and Community. In addition, he founded Interfaith Housing in Lower Bucks, a now 25- yearold nonprofit that provides affordable places to live for those in need and a means for them to return to self-sufficiency.

The Rev. Krass was a vigorous, vocal advocate for diversity and communication between those of different backgrounds. He also participated in the Interfaith Council for Middle East Peace (ICMEP) traveling to the Middle East with others to gain a greater awareness of the conflict.

Rev. Krass was founding coordinator of the Buxmont Chapter of the Coalition for Peace Action and organized walks and many other events to stem the tide of violence here and around the world. The inaugural award will be given posthumously to Rev. Al Krass and accepted by his wife, Susan.

The event will conclude with reflections and a call to promote peace now and in the future. The Rev. Shelly Davis, pastor of the United Christian Church and President of ICLB, and Lee Nour Phillips of the Zubaida Foundation and ICLB board member will coemcee the event.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with ingredients listed on a small card to be displayed with the dish.

Silver Lake Nature Center is located at Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Road, Bristol. For information, call the Rev. Shelly Davis, President of ICLB, at 215-946-6800 (email: shellydavis2@aol.com) or Cathy Leary at 215-917-2891 (email: cfpabuxmont@ aol.com) for more information.