The United Methodist Women of Murphy’s Chapel United Methodist Church participated in the International Day of Peace, which is a call to prayer day by the World Council of Churches and the United Nations.

The Rev. Ben Taylor, church pastor, said the women’s organization suggested that the church participate in this nationwide call to prayer.

“The women of the UMW thought that there would be a lot of interest in taking a day to pray for world peace,” Taylor said. “At Murphy’s Chapel we dedicated a time of Bible study to peace and its significance worldwide.”

Because peace begins in the heart and in the home, Taylor said that the UMW members brought stones to be decorated with olive branches, which is the biblical symbol for peace.

The stones were inscribed with “2011 International Day of Peace.”

“They called the stones, Seed of Peace because they were to place the ‘seeds’ in a visible place at their homes or their places of work,” Taylor said. “The hope was that, when people saw the seeds, they would ask questions about them.”

The questions would be openings to conversations about peace and what it means in the home, in the community, the country and around the world.”

At Murphy’s Chapel, the International Day of Peace recognition was an opportunity to talk about peace and how it can be achieved among the church members.

“I think we all came away with thoughts of the need for peace in all areas of our lives and, too, we came to the realization that peace is possible because all things are possible with God,” Taylor said.