On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Alan Dench was nominated to receive the 37th Annual Harold and Alma Abel Peace Award at Pebble Hill Interfaith Church in Doylestown, PA. The award was established in 1984 on a grant from Rev. Harold and Alma Able. Awardees are chosen on the basis of significant contributions to peace and social justice and are usually from the Delaware Valley. Alan received the Peace Award for the services he has offered Pebble Hill Church, a registered Peace Site with the World Citizen Peace Organization.
During the past year and a half during the pandemic, Alan has assumed many vital roles that include church treasurer where he has managed the budget helping to keep Pebble Hill financially solvent, assuming a leadership role serving on the Church Council, supporting the building and grounds as gatekeeper of the community handling facility issues and rentals. Throughout the many years, Alan has steadfastly supported Pebble Hill where he has performed many of these vital roles. However, these “acts of service” have become more paramount throughout the pandemic. Alan has truly been the “go-to guy” with his technical skills managing the Pebble Hill website keeping communication flowing, as well as managing the Zoom sessions and physically hosting virtual and hybrid weekly Sunday Pebble Hill Celebrations.
During the Black Lives Mater student demonstrations that roiled Doylestown the summer of 2020, before COVID shut everything down, Alan volunteered as a boundary-keeper sheltering the students from raucous counter-demonstrators in collaboration with “Rise Up Doylestown.” Alan was instrumental in supporting the BLM movement and participated in a Doylestown Borough Council session with other members of Pebble Hill Church where he shared his concerns about the need for a more supportive police presence to the BLM movement.
One of Alan’s most outstanding contributions has been as the Camp Director for Pebble Hill Church’s annual Pebble Hill Camp since 2008. In those 13 years, Pebble Hill Camp has become an important outreach to others in the larger community. Alan has worked closely with the Camp Board devotedly building the camp experience and engaging others both within and outside the Pebble Hill Community for a full week camp experience at Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village in the Poconos, a 70 acre, one-of-a-kind private lake and waterfront experience. Pebble Hill Camp served 78 people this past year, many whom were able to participate in a week long experience that supported the values of the Pebble Hill Interfaith Community of love, acceptance and joy in a fun and adventurous outdoor environment. Many of those who participated included families and children.
In addition, this past Summer, on August 7th, one week before the Pebble Hill Camp, Alan assumed a leadership role in hosting the “Oneness Festival”, A Day of Peace & Love, Giving & Receiving Oneness & Spirit, Community & Soul Family on the grounds of Pebble Hill Church. This event was cohosted by the AWAKEN Center for Human Evolution, the Being One Center for Spiritual Studies and Universal Healing, and the Circle of Miracles -An Interspiritual Community. This event hosted workshops, presentations, musicians, and vendors of various holistic and healing modalities. The Oneness Festival was a welcome gathering of people from separate communities who came together to share and gather on the grounds of Pebble Hill Church on a glorious warm sunny day under outside tents that were assembled by the committee of individuals supported by Alan Dench, the Pebble Hill gatekeeper. Over 100 people participated in this event after remaining isolated and separated during the long pandemic.
Alan’s giving nature and willingness to selflessly support Pebble Hill Church and the surrounding community is quite noteworthy and evidenced by his nomination to receive the Harold and Alma Abel Peace Award. Many thanks to Alan for his commitment and dedication and tireless support of others in helping to make a difference in our world by his service.
(Left to right) Larry Hall – Celebration Coordinator, Alan Dench – Peace Award Recipient, Jeff MacNair – Council President
