On the evening of Sept. 16, National Peace Day, the sidewalks of Parker were crowded by a contingent of peace-conscious folks from a local church, Center of Awakening. People holding signs and pets on leashes banded together to celebrate the "Walk for Peace" that took place throughout the United States over the weekend.

Members and friends of the church came together with their children and pets to promote the idea of peace in our daily lives. The walk began at Challenger Park after a cool outdoor potluck picnic. It followed the sidewalks and bike path toward the Parker post office and ended at the Black Belt Café and Ascensions Inc. All along the route signs blew valiantly in the brisk wind, car horns honked and passers-by waved peace signs to the marchers. But the chilling wind was no match for the warm spirit surrounding this group. They concluded their celebration of peace with a candlelight ceremony at the Café, including prayer and song.

Given current military and political conflict in the world, as well as domestic hostilities within every community, Rev. Dr. Vern Martin, senior minister at Center of Awakening, and working with Creation Team members from the church, was inspired to "raise the peace barometer" and bring a higher level of peace-consciousness to the forefront of the Parker and surrounding communities through sermon topics presented throughout September. Dr. Vern also included information from the latest book by Deepak Chopra, Peace is the Way.

The sermon series and the Peace Walk & Celebration was created, in part, to support the efforts of The Peace Alliance, an organization chaired by Marianne Williamson that has a bill before the Senate and the House of Representatives to establish a U.S. Department of Peace ( www.ThePeaceAlliance.org). A Colorado campaign has been established to support this Department of Peace effort and information can be found at www.codopcampaign.org.

The Center of Awakening is an independent Religious Science church. Sunday services are held at 10 a.m. at Northeast Elementary School in Parker (northeast corner of N. Pinery and Parker roads). The Youth Church (KidZone) is held during the same time period and the Teen Church gathers on the second and fourth Sundays. For more information about Center of Awakening and the classes offered through The Institute , please visit the church website at www.CenterOfAwakening.org