Memo Regarding the 2015 Cosmic Blessing Ceremony

The Cosmic Blessing Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (Korea time) in conjunction with the Second Anniversary of Foundation Day.

All matched couples and already married couples that have not yet received the Blessing are invited to attend this Cosmic Blessing Ceremony. All couples planning to attend the Blessing Ceremony should fill out the online Blessing Ceremony Application by February 10, 2015.

The Korea Blessing Experience

The main Cosmic Blessing Ceremony, officiated by True Mother, will be held in Cheong Pyeong, Korea on March 3, 2015. The Korea Blessing Experience will include pre- and post-celebratory activities surrounding the Blessing Ceremony for couples traveling from the U.S. True Mother is looking forward to welcoming many couples from around the world to Korea for the celebration. For the couples remaining in the U.S., the Second Anniversary of Foundation Day and the Cosmic Blessing Ceremony will be broadcast live via the Internet at various locations throughout the U.S. on the evening of Monday, March 2, 2015. Please contact your local or district pastor for information about how to participate in a Blessing Ceremony event locally. Click here to view a list of all local communities around the U.S. that will hold Blessing Ceremonies.

Schedule in Korea

Matched/engaged couples and already married couples planning to receive the Blessing in Korea should plan to arrive in Korea on Sunday, March 1, and depart no earlier than Wednesday, March 4. It is advised to depart Korea on March 4 or 5. A fun and memorable program will be offered during this time, which will include sightseeing and couple activities. Expenses for transportation, food, accommodation, and activities from March 1 to the morning of March 5 will be covered for all Blessing participants by their Blessing Offering. Any personal time spent in Korea before March 1 or after 12 p.m. on March 5 must be arranged and funded as a personal expense. Family members and relatives wishing to attend during this time will need to make their own arrangements.

Please try to arrive at Incheon International Airport (ICN) by 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 1. Seil Travel will provide bus transportation from Incheon Airport to the Blessing Ceremony location at Cheong Pyeong at specific times throughout the day. Please do not arrive in Korea through Gimpo Airport or any airports other than Incheon. Incheon Airport is the closest and most convenient airport to travel to and from Cheong Pyeong. If you cannot arrive in Korea on March 1 by 2 p.m. due to high ticket prices for earlier flights or an inconvenient schedule, please let us know by email: BFMadmin@unification.org.

NOTE: If you would like an official letter of Excuse Absence for Religious Observance to request time off school or work, please contact BFMadmin@unification.org

Accommodations

All USA Blessing participants and guests will be staying at the Hanwha Resort (café, sauna, game room, billiards, karaoke, and supermarket).

Flight Information

All travelers to Korea (Blessing participants and guests) must complete the Flight Info and Accommodations form.

Details for Family Members & Guests Traveling to Korea

For family members and guests who will travel to Korea, accommodations, meals and transportation will be provided for the general cost of around $40 per day for accommodations and meals, and $20 for transportation each way for transportation to/from Incheon Airport and to/from Cheong Pyeong. These fees must be paid to the USA-BFM staff on arrival at the Hanwha Resort.

The Korea Travel Grant

To support couples that will travel to Korea for the upcoming Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony on March 3, the National USA Family Federation Headquarters is offering an opportunity for individuals residing in the U.S. who will participate in the Blessing Ceremony in Korea to apply for a travel grant of $500 per individual towards their travel expenses. With this travel grant, the expenses of attending the Blessing Ceremony in Korea will be significantly reduced to a similar cost of attending the Blessing in the U.S.

To apply, applicants must submit the application form below. Recipients of the Korea Travel Grant will be chosen based on the quality and sincerity of the essay submissions. The deadline to apply is January 11, 2015.

Blessing Requirements

Reminder: All engaged/matched couples and already married couples must complete the following Blessing requirements by February 10, 2015 to receive the Marriage Blessing:

1. Level 3 Blessing Education

The Level 3 Blessing Education is designed to help engaged couples prepare for married life and the Blessing. There will be two national Level 3 workshops in January. One will be held on January 10-11 at the Bay Area Family Church in California and the other on January 23-25 at UTS, New York.

2. Blessing Interview

The Blessing Interview should be completed before a couple is matched, but if you have not yet done so, please complete the Blessing Interview so as soon as possible. This interview is designed to help you leave your past completely behind you, receive the forgiveness and grace of God and True Parents and enter the Blessing with a renewed and pure heart.

3. Matching Report Form for Matched Couples

All matched couples must report their engagement to the National Blessing & Family Ministry by

completing the Matching Report Application.

4. Blessing Ceremony Application & Blessing Offering

All couples that plan to receive the Blessing (in Korea or in US) must complete the online Blessing Ceremony Application. The Blessing Offering is paid at the end of the application form to qualify applicants to receive the Blessing.

Cheon Il Guk Matching

Prior to the ceremony, there will also be a Cheon Il Guk Matching facilitated by True Mother. Individuals wishing to participate in the Cheon Il Guk Matching facilitated by True Mother should plan to arrive in Korea by Wednesday, February 25 and depart no earlier than Wednesday, March 4. There will be a special workshop in Korea for all Cheon Il Guk Matching applicants prior to the Blessing Ceremony from February 26 through 27. The Matching Ceremony will take place during the workshop. Only those who are physically present will be able to participate. Expenses for transportation, meals and lodging will be covered by the Blessing Offering for all CIG Matching participants. Individuals interested in participating in the CIG Matching must complete Matching Candidate Application. Upon completing the Matching Candidate Application, all applicants will have a phone conversation with a BFM staff to confirm their attendance.

Accommodations

CIG Matching participants will be staying at the Cheonga Camp (Cheong Shim International Youth Center). All CIG Matching participants must also complete the Flight Info and Accommodations form.

The National Blessing & Family Ministry can be contacted at BFMadmin@unification.org to answer any questions regarding the upcoming Blessing.

Dr. Michael Balcomb President FFWPU - USA

Marjorie Buessing Interim Director BFM, FFWPU - USA

Holy Marriage Blessing Celebrations Nationwide

Below are celebrations across the United States that will be celebrating marriage and family through the

Holy Marriage Blessing on March 2nd, 2015. Get in touch with the representative in your local community to find out more about the Holy Marriage Blessing.

Bay Area, California

Bay Area Family Church Pastor Kevin Thompson Contact: Siew Lian Le Roy Location: Shimjung Garden – 2929 Avalon Ave. Berkeley, CA 94705

Detroit, Michigan

True Family Values Banquet & Marriage Rededication Celebration Metro Detroit Family Church Pastor David Kasbow Location: Metro Detroit Family Church – 22021 Memphis Rd. Warren, MI 48091

Lanham, Maryland

New Hope Family Church Pastor Miilhan Stephens Location: Le Fontaine Bleue – 7963 Annapolis Rd. Lanham, MD 20706

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Family Church Pastor George Kazakus Location: Pasadena House – 950 Holly Vista Dr., Pasadena, CA 91105

Manchester, New Hampshire

Faith Fusion Family Church Pastor Heather Thalheimer

New York City, New York

Family Church of New York City Pastor Tanya Edwards Blessing Ceremony Contact: Christian Nseka Holy Wine Ceremony: Sunday, March 1st Location: Family Church of New York City – 4 W. 43rd St. New York City, NY Registration Deadline: December 31