KWWL.com - News & Weather for Waterloo, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, Iowa | Carol Downs: In praise of peace

Carol Downs: In praise of peace

by Sunny Layne

CEDAR FALLS (KWWL) -- As violence makes headlines around the world, One woman is using her gift of music to promote peace from the ground up. Meet Carol Downs, someone you should know.

We often hear about choirs raising a joyful noise, but First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls is raising a peaceful noise.

"Set to music it sticks in your mind better than if you just hear it," Carol Downs said.

Member Carol Downs not only sings in the choir, she just finished her third annual composition for this Cedar Falls congregation as part of the National Presbyterian "Peace Making Offering."

"I feel we can find common ground in worship and prayer," she said.

The national office of the First Presbyterian Church issued this year's theme as Psalm 85, which talks about justice and peace coming together.

"If you think about it, there's lots of times where justice and peace meet in the life of Christ, feeding the hungry healing the sick, eating with the social outcasts,"she said.

This mother of two has made efforts to promote peace in her area through prayer services and unity dinners.

"Lately I tried to bring people of Cedar Falls and Waterloo closer together. Tried to form relationships that weren't there before," she said.

Downs hopes the peaceful notes in her music will help others to create a peaceful note in their communities.

The first Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls debuted Downs' peacemaking anthem Sunday during its services.

Reporter: Sunny Layne