Foundation Day 2016 - Blessing Ceremony Information

We hope you are enjoying a very Happy Holiday season! What a blessing we have received through having our beloved True Mother visiting with us here in America. True Mother has expressed to us many times the importance of sharing the Marriage Blessing with the world in order to bring about the substantial Cheon Il Guk. During her visit to the U.S. on May 24, 2015, True Mother shared the following:

“All of us are living together with True Parents at the same time and we’re working for the sake of world peace, trying to realize one family under God. In order to devote ourselves to this task, we need to work harder.

The method to do so is for us to fulfill our responsibility. What responsibility is that? It is to testify to True Parents through our tribes and bring them to the Holy Marriage Blessing.”

The upcoming Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony is an opportunity for us to respond to our True Parents’ call and share our Heavenly Parent’s and True Parents’ love, life, and lineage with America and the world through the Holy Marriage Blessing.

This Foundation Day 2016, couples will be able to receive the Holy Marriage Blessing directly from our beloved True Mother. The Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony will take place in conjunction with the Third Anniversary of Cheon Il Guk Foundation Day on February 20, 2016 (Korea time). Communities throughout the USA are encouraged to host a Marriage Blessing Ceremony on February 19, 20 or 21. Click here for more information on hosting a ceremony. All matched couples and married couples that have not yet received the Marriage Blessing are invited to attend this Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony officiated by True Mother in either Korea or the USA.

All couples planning to attend the Blessing Ceremony must complete the Online Application prior to January 10, 2016 (for those attending in Korea) and January 31 (for those attending in the USA). More detailed information about participating in Korea or the USA is below.

For detailed info about the Foundation Day Blessing 2016, please visit bfm.familyfed.org/foundationday2016/.

The Korea Blessing Experience

A fun and memorable program will be prepared for couples and guests from the USA, including the Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony, sightseeing in Korea, marriage education, and activities for couples and families. Expenses for transportation, food, accommodation, and activities will be covered by the Blessing Offering for participating couples. The main Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony, officiated by True Mother, will be held at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Cheong Pyeong, Korea on February 20, 2016. True Mother is looking forward to welcoming many couples from around the world to Korea for the celebration. For more information on the Korea Blessing Experience, schedule and details, check out the Frequently Asked Questions on the BFM website.

Korea Travel Grant

In an effort to support couples that will travel to Korea, the National FFWPU-USA is offering an opportunity for individuals residing in the USA, who will participate in the Foundation Day 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 Ceremony in the USA.

To apply for the Korea Travel Grant, 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 for the grant is Sunday, January 10. Apply for the Korea Travel Grant.

The USA Blessing Experience

The main Foundation Day Blessing in Korea will be broadcast live at locations throughout the USA on the evening of February 19, 2016. Local communities throughout the nation are encouraged to prepare beautiful Blessing Ceremonies for the couples in your area. Please contact your local FFWPU pastor for more information on how to participate in one of these ceremonies. If you are a local pastor and would like to hold a local Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony on February 19, please complete this form as soon as possible.

Click here to view a list of communities that will hold a Blessing Ceremony on February 19 (USA time).

As a Pastor or Tribal Messiah

This will also be a key opportunity for us to invite any married couples (our friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, etc.) to receive the Marriage Blessing from True Parents. You can invite people using this invitation flyer: Download Invitation.

Resources to host a Marriage Blessing Ceremony: click here for resources to help you host a successful and elegant Blessing Ceremony in your community.

Requirements to Receive the Marriage Blessing

A) For Matched Couples

All matched/ engaged couples must complete the following requirements by the deadline in order to receive the Marriage Blessing:

1. Education

The Start Smart: Level 3 Blessing Education is designed to help engaged couples prepare for married life and the Marriage Blessing, and is a requirement for all matched couples. There will be a national Level 3 Blessing workshop on December 18-20 at UTS, New York. Additionally, a Level 3 Online Course is available to matched couples that cannot make it to the New York workshop.

2. Blessing Interview

If you have not yet done so, please complete the Blessing Interview as soon as possible. This interview is designed to help you leave any mistakes completely behind, receive the forgiveness and grace of Heavenly Parent and True Parents, and enter the Marriage Blessing with a renewed and pure heart.

Click here for more info on the Blessing Interview.

3. Blessing Ceremony Application & Blessing Offering

Additional requirements can be found on the application itself. The online application system was designed to help you best prepare for the Marriage Blessing. Complete the Blessing Ceremony Application and make your Blessing Offering before the deadline. If you have not yet completed your Matching Candidate Application and Matching Report Application, then you will need to complete them before you can start the Blessing Ceremony Application.

All couples that plan to attend the Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony (in Korea or in the USA) must complete the online Blessing Ceremony Application by the deadline (January 10 for Korea; January 31 for USA). The Blessing Offering is paid at the end of the application to qualify applicants to receive the Marriage Blessing.

Click here to access the online Application Center.

B) For Married Couples

All married couples must complete the following requirements by the deadline to receive the Marriage Blessing:

1. Education

Married couples that plan to attend the Foundation Day Blessing Ceremony (in Korea or in the USA) should have a basic understanding of the value of the Marriage Blessing, role of True Parents, change of blood lineage, and the Five Steps. They can connect with their local FFWPU pastor to learn more and receive education.

2. Blessing Ceremony Application & Blessing Offering

All married couples that plan to receive the Blessing (in Korea or in the USA) must complete the online Blessing Ceremony Application by the deadline (January 10 for Korea; January 31 for USA). The Blessing Offering is paid at the end of the application form to qualify applicants to receive the Blessing.

Click here to access the Blessing Ceremony Application on BlessingAmerica.org.

We wish you the very best in your preparations for this upcoming Marriage Blessing! Our national Blessing & Family Ministry team can be contacted at mailto:bfmadmin@unification.org to answer any questions regarding the Foundation Day Blessing 2016.

Dr. Michael Balcomb President

Crescentia DeGoede Director, Blessing and Family Ministry

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