CPFUMC 5th Annual May 5th, 2007 (Cinco de Mayo) 1 - 4 PM

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This Year's Event Theme ...
"It's A Small World After All"

Cedar Park First United Methodist Church held their 5th Annual Peace Festival on Saturday, May 5th from 1-4pm on the church grounds.

The festival celebrated the differences between countries.

There were booths from several different countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chile, Germany, Botswana, Poland, South Korea, Mexico, and Iraq. "There was something of interest at the Peace Festival for everyone," explained Pastor Pam Sheffield. "Our church strives to be an actively inclusive voice in this community."

When families arrived, they proceeded to the "Embassy” where children were given passports.

A FREE Peace Festival "Passport"
	When families arrived, they proceed to the “Embassy”, where children were given passports. Children were then whisked away on the Peace Train to visit each country’s booth. Country booths included the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Chile, Korea, Mexico, Iraq, Germany, and Botswana.

Families learned what it was like to live in each country, including things like the demographics, climate, traditions, and music.

There were piñatas at the Mexico booth to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, drum making at the Congo, letter writing to our soldiers in Iraq, German chocolate cake & gummy bears at Germany, meekat movies at Botswana, and much more.

“Peace is like the bread. The same recipe is used around the world with local spice to make it their own.” - Festival bread baker

Each booth had bread from that country for families to try, and children also had the opportunity to bake their own loaf of bread as well. Bread was an important part of the festival. “Peace is like the bread. The same recipe is used around the world with local spice to make it their own!!” said one of the bakers for the festival.

Families also participated in creating a flag wall mural.

Flags from 111 different nations were made with markers, crayons, and a lot of construction paper. The flags were then put together to make a large wall mural in the sanctuary. Maps & Globes were available for people to match the flags to where the countries were located.

The flag wall mural remains on display in Cedar Park First United Methodist Church’s Sanctuary at 600 W. Park Street for the next few weeks.