Dr. Sun Myung Moon Seonghwa ceremony in The Hague, Netherlands

On September 25, 2012, Unification Movement Nederland, including Universal Peace Federation Nederland, held a Seonghwa ceremony for Dr. Sun Myung Moon (6-1-1920 to 3-9-2012) in the Christus Triumfatorkerk in The Hague.

On the invitation, were included Father Moon’s last prayer: “I spent my whole life so far committed to the Father. In compliance with His will, I will now end my life in complete surrender. I have already fulfilled my duties. I have completed everything”; and his explanation: “The moment of our transition to the spiritual world should be a time of joy and victory. At that moment, we harvest the fruits of our life on earth. It is a time when those who remain behind the deceased send him forward with a happy and grateful heart. That is the meaning of the sacred and noble Seonghwa Ceremony - the ceremony of transition to the eternal world - the first step that the spirit of the deceased takes towards eternal life in God’s intimate closeness.” (From: Father Moon’s autobiography “My Life for World Peace”).

The ceremony began at 20.00 with MC Lisa Janssen greeting everyone assembled, followed by all singing the Cheon Il Guk National Anthem, led by Christopher Davies and some Unificationist sisters on the stage. (Hans Campman had been called to London at very short notice.)

Jan van Winden read some of the condolences received and Bert Janssen read a short summary of Father Moon’s life. There followed a video about Father Moon, and three prominent Ambassadors for Peace, Dr. & Mrs F. Van Eekelen (together), Abdullah Haselhoef, a nationally known Muslim, and Father Avin, European Students Roman Catholic Chaplain, shared their thoughts and feelings.

Eleanor Flowers Klerkx sang the hymn Be Thou My Vision, and Second Generation Unificationist Kyung In van der Ven shared what Father Moon meant to her. Wim Koetsier reflected on Father Moon’s life and a piece of recorded music gave time for the congregation to dwell on the evening’s experience.

In closing, it was announced that a copy of Father Moon’s autobiography, recently published in Dutch, would be given to each guest, and all joined in singing The Song of the Garden.

Following the service, there was a group photo, after which everyone was treated to lavish refreshments, prepared by Rudi & Thea Rijntjes, who had also prepared the altar in the church.

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Including Hans Campman, called to the UK at the last minute, there were 85 participants, including 28 guests, some of them AfPs. Thus, (85-28) 57 Unificationists, including 17 second generation (40 first)

and two Blessed husbands who had not attended a UM events for many years.

In addition to Unificationism, religions represented included Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity: Protestant & Roman Catholic, Scientology, Sufism.

Guests & AfPs included AfPs Dhr. & Mw. van Eekelen, Abdullah Haselhoef, Father Avin, Mw. Soraj Laki, Mw. Fatma Aktas, Dhr. Singh, Prof. Gautam & Prof. Ronki Ram, Martial Arts Grandmaster “Taikwando” Kim & his wife, Ds Berveling & his wife, Merel Remmerswaal, Imam Said Kailani, Bep van de Hurk; in addition there were four members of Aisa – Muslim community, Mw. Shin, Dhr. Ramautar and Maria, the Spanish guest of fam. Wirjoredjo.