By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

At 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve, people of several religious affiliations will come together at the World Peace Bell in Newport and the Cintas Center on the Xavier University campus.

Their mission is to pray for peace, joy and love in 2003.

IF YOU GO

• What: Interfaith prayer service. • When: 2-4 p.m. Tuesday. • Where: World Peace Bell, Fourth and York streets, Newport, followed by event at Cintas Center, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Walnut Hills.

They will then share gestures of peace - handshakes, or perhaps a kind word or smile.

"We do have issues in Cincinnati, but I think this can help," said organizer Mark Gable. Mr. Gable said working with clergy is an ideal way to start the process toward peace.

Those who can't make it to the Peace Bell or the Cintas Center can still participate in the events.

Sponsors of the interfaith prayer service, which include the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition, Council of Christian Communions and the Board of Rabbis, have arranged for bells to ring out from several area churches at the same time the festivities get under way. Wherever you are at 2 p.m., you can stop and share a moment of peace.

"There is much turmoil that surrounds us,'' said one of the organizers, the Rev. Raymond Sherman, assistant to E. Len Brown, bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopalian Church.

"But within, each of us individually strives for something more, something better. For this reason we are asking everyone to pause a moment and turn to the next person and offer them a sign of peace."

The celebration at the World Peace Bell, located at the corner of Fourth and York streets, will feature children singing songs in four languages.

After a prayer service, the Newport group will board a bus bound for the Cintas Center, where they will join the prayer service and celebration there in progress.