Our world is in the midst of change. Every day we hear stories of natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes or floods, man-made crises like the Gulf oil spill. The economy is unstable, people are afraid of getting cancer or AIDS and the rising cost of health care. Gas prices keep fluctuating.

When the world seems unpredictable, we all yearn for security and peace of mind. The Universal Hour of Peace was established to fulfill this need. People around the world bring in the New Year by dedicating their thoughts and actions to peace for one hour, from 11:30pm December 31 through 12:30am

January 1. Anyone can participate in this simple act.

This endeavor springs from the School of Metaphysics teaching that thoughts are real and create the world we live in. Thinking peaceful thoughts produces a peaceful state of mind. A peaceful person brings that equanimity into their relationships, their family, workplace, community, nation, and the world. This mind shift can bring about a world free from war, a world in which people respect and value each other, a world in which aiding others becomes the common theme.

The vision of the Universal Hour of Peace is to unite all people of the Earth toward a common pursuit of peace. The highlight of the hour is reading the Universal Peace Covenant at midnight.

The one-page covenant was written by a group of School of Metaphysics teachers in 1996-1997. Its message can be crystallized in the verse, ?Living peaceably begins by

thinking peacefully.Ç People around the globe come together as

One Voice reading this document when the clock strikes midnight. The covenant has been translated into ten languages. It has been read on all seven continents.

We invite you to join us by participating in your community. Read the Universal Peace Covenant wherever you are. Share it with your family, friends, and colleagues.

You are in good company. The Universal Hour of Peace received a blessing from Mother Teresa, and letters of support from His Majesty King Hussein I of Jordan, President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines, and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Jerusalem, Israel. Governors from 20 of the United States of America and dozens of mayors have signed proclamations for the Universal

Hour of Peace.

For more information, contact your local School of Metaphysics attulsa@som.org 918-582-8836 or www.som.org/tulsa.

The S.O.M. is a 501(c)(3) educational and service organization serving the community 100 ways.