In this issue:
- For Our World (Section 2 of 6 - "We need to be silent...")
- 2025 "Mosaic of Gift Bricks" order deadline approaching
- Save the Date (Toast2Peace on Peace Day info)
- #CompassionMatters - April reflection spotlight
- Shout Outs to recent supporters
"We Need to Be Silent."
For Our World
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment...
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
Excerpt 2 of 6 from For Our World
by Mattie J.T. Stepanek (9/11/2001)
Mattie J.T. Stepanek - appreciating a moment of silence.
Summer 1999
As we continue exploring Mattie’s “For Our World” poem – penned on September 11, 2001 – this month our theme is on the important matter of “silence.”
Mattie begins the timeless and universal message of hope and peace in this poem with a call for us to “stop” – not cease seeking peace, but to pause “before anybody says or does anything that may hurt anyone else.”
His next call to action is for us to “be silent” – not to cease advocating for the needs and rights of all people, but to give space for reflection “before we forever lose the blessing of songs that grow in our hearts.”
Silence matters.
Silence can calm us, reduce stress, help us focus, and enhance creativity.
In moments of silence, we have opportunities for meaningful processing of information and emotions, which can help us with making peaceful and purposeful choices about important matters.
In describing peace – within and with others – Mattie once wrote, “There is a gentle quietness to peace. Relinquishing anger and tightfistedness brings a calming acceptance and resilience.”
This month, let us pause, and allow moments of silence that support meditation, consideration, and clarification on challenging realities that we face as individuals and communities and local and global neighbors.
And, let us pause and appreciate moments of silence that bring rejuvenation, and realization and amplification of those unique and beautiful Heartsongs that give purpose to each and every person – individually, and collectively.
It is not always easy to be silent in our busy world, or to focus on challenges with a perspective that seeks positivity – but it is always worthy.
Let us pause, with moments of silence - and reflect on, respond to, and reach out with this message of hope.
- Below is Mattie's "For Our World" peace passage in entirety, and links to his voice sharing the message.
- Please read or listen to the poem - on your own, or in community with your family, friends, and colleagues.
- Then please consider this month's "Reflect-Respond-ReachOut" suggestions (also below).
We welcome your shared thoughts - about the poem, about this month's RRR suggestions, about compassion and peace for our world. Please e-mail us: [email protected]
With hope and peace,
Jeni Stepanek, PhD ("Mama Peace").
Click here for an audio/visual version of
Mattie reading For Our World
"Mosaic of Gift Bricks"
2025 orders now open!
DEADLINE to order: MAY 30, 2025
100 percent tax deductible!
Celebrate a birthday or anniversary,
commemorate an event or holiday
(Mother's or Father's Day,
graduation, retirement, reunion...),
or just share a personal message
while making your mark in history
and supporting Mattie's peace legacy.
Each brick can have
UP TO THREE LINES OF TEXT
Each line can have
UP TO 14 spaces/characters.
Our Foundation 20-year anniversary price special:
$150 per brick! (usually $199 each)
100 percent tax deductible!
ORDER DEADLINE:
Tuesday, May 30, 2025
Please note that your donation is for a brick,
and we will reach out to you for your brick message.
OR - mail your check to:
Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation
402 King Farm Blvd #125
Rockville, MD 20850
SHOUT OUT
to our Partners4Peace
POTOMAC VALLEY BRICK
for sponsoring our annual
brick installation!
SAVE THE DATE
July 17 (5-8pm EDT)
International #Toast2Peace on Peace Day
"Raise a glass or grateful hands,
and connect with purpose - for peace."
To celebrate
Mattie's 35th birthday and Peace Day,
we are planning an international
#Toast2Peace on Peace Day event
- with fun for families and folks of all ages!
Around 7pm EDT, we will be
live-streaming virtually between
"Toast2Peace" in-person gatherings
in the United States
(Rockville, MD and New York, NY),
Canada (Prince Edward Island),
the United Kingdom
- and other sites as YOU help us plan!
Our goal is to have
"many people in many places
- with a common purpose: peace!"
Please let us know if you would like to
plan a "local" #Toast2Peace
that will link to our international
virtual livestream event.
Event sponsorships of $300 or more
include an invitation to be
on our stage or livestream!
Let us know if you would like to learn more:
[email protected]
The flyer below has information about
the ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND event.
Flyers for other T2P gatherings
will be shared as details are finalized.
#CompassionMatters
Compassion can help us, and help others, cope with personal and global pain. And it can help us build connections of hope that strengthen us as we continue cultivating pathways to peace as we journey forthward – together.
Gratitude to Our Recent Supporters
Thank you to all who have taken a look at our new website (www.MattiesPeaceFoundation.org). We are excited to continue adding new pages in the coming - including "About Mattie," "Exploring Peace," "About Mama Peace (Jeni)," "Our Partners4Peace," and "Peace Certification" - with more pages in the queue after that.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Mattie's Peace Foundation!
Help us continue Mattie's mission of cultivating peace with a 100 percent tax-deductible gift. It is because of your generosity that our worthy work successfully continues.
SHARE YOUR GIFT FOR PEACE
CLICK HERE...
A special thank you to folks who support our mission, including:
Glen Smith - who made a very generous donation though our website.
A special thank you to folks who support our work, including:
Kathleen & Dave Richardson & Potomac Valley Brick - who sponsor our annual brick installation, Scott Feldman (Giuseppi's Pizza Plus in Rockville) - who sponsors two Mama Peace Chats every month, Main Street Connect - where Mattie's Peace Room is located and many of the Mama Peace Chats take place, VisArts - who helps with our Peace Day craft stations, Rockville Rocks - who shares their talents and resources in community-building ways, and World of Beer (Rockville, MD) - where our local July 17 #Toast2Peace Peace Day celebration will take place.
And a mega-special shout out to the folks who offer monthly gifts, including:
Andrew Greer, Mary Elizabeth Hill, Randi Kristensen, Gidon Wagner, an anonymous donor, and Rob WIndrem.
In the coming months,
we will share all of our
2024-2025 brick sponsors
and their inscriptions.
Peace matters, and so you.
Thank you.
Mama Peace (Jeni Stepanek, PhD)
and the
Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation
If you missed a previous e-Peace Update
with information & inspiration
from Mattie & his Foundation
you can check out recent editions here...
"Peace is possible... choose peace!"
Mattie J.T. Stepanek
