When George Worthmore, a well-known guitarist and singer, was touring the Michigan region recently he met Candice Wilmore at a local club where she asked him to play at what would later be called “Words and Music.”

The next time he came through Lansing, Candice and her friends rented a community center and invited people to hear him and watch a DVD about peace. The evening was billed simply: “Words and Music: Words from Prem Rawat; Music from George Worthmore.”

By the end of the evening, thirty people were bouncing their heads to George’s famous ragtime blues. A new way to introduce a simple message had arrived.

This first event with Worthmore drew several of his local fans — people who would probably not have come otherwise. Candice and her friends saw the potential — and so began what is now a series of live music and video presentations.

In May 2010, a second Words and Music event was held at the public library in East Lansing. This time, it combined a performance by Elden Kelly, a Michigan State University musicology masters student, and a video called “Fundamental Desire,” which integrates Prem Rawat’s words with comments from people who know him.

Kelly, who knew about Prem Rawat but had never heard him speak, said he enjoys performing for others, especially at an event that promotes peace.

“This is something I’m very happy about because of Prem’s message,” said Kelly, who performed both original material and jazz standards.

Guests stayed for the entire 90 minute presentation and were free to look over materials or enjoy a snack while the music continued.

The editor of the Michigan State University campus newspaper, who had seen the calendar listing, asked if a reporter could cover the “interesting concept.”

The following day’s article was headlined “Words, Music Event Fosters Peace,” with a large photo of Kelly. It was clear that this was a community activity that could attract people to future events in this city.

When asked why he enjoyed listening to Prem Rawat, Tom McEvoy, a Lansing resident, told the reporter: “It’s just a totally positive experience — one of those indescribable things.” He spoke about how he had been shown something that “brings a new light to my life.”

Another woman said she’d been hearing about Prem Rawat from friends for over twenty years and that it was “nice to finally hear him speak for himself.”

One musician in the audience, who was attending Words and Music for the first time, asked if he could play at a future event.

“This was great,” he said. “The vibe in the room is what I look for when I play for an audience.”

A volunteer summed it up by saying there was a synergy to the event which allowed people to take the feeling of the words and sit with it during the music.

Following the success of these events, Candice and her friends are now planning a third, where people can again listen to some simple words of peace — and a "soundtrack" to go with them.

Photographs courtesy of Matt Katzenberger