“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives.” John 14:27
Dear Friends:
Shalom, my friends, shalom. Shalom is the Hebrew שׁלום word rooted in the definition of Peace. More succinctly, shalom means to have a complete wholeness, sound health, secure safety, and the riches of prosperity, a blessed harmony. Shalom is a desired permanent state in which to live. We can hope all strive for Peace. The Peace we know when strife, war, and enmity are overcome. The Peace that warms our heart when we’ve found a way to communicate with equal satisfaction. The Peace of trust in what can only come from God. The Peace that is won for us through the divine, saving grace of Jesus Christ.
According to the midrash of Tanhuma Shofetim, the ultimate aim of the ancient text of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) is to achieve Peace: “All that is written in the Torah was written for the sake of Peace”. Among the most important Judaic values Peace is paramount along with truth and justice. To achieve Peace is to reach perfection.
Don’t blink. Because, as soon as we do, Advent will be upon us. With blessed Thanksgiving just days away, later this year, as we’re without the usual extra week to ready us for Advent. So, as soon as Thanksgiving is completed, Advent begins. Advent is that season of the church calendar when we prepare and ready ourselves for the celebration miracle of the birth of the Christ child. Advent begins December 1. The theme for Advent this 2019 is “Peace”.
This Advent may we practice Peace with “all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength and with all our mind.” Practice slowing down with the Peace of Shalom. Pray and Reflect on the daily on line devotionals centered around four weekly themes of Peace. Practice Peace in worship as we sing from the hymnal #714, “Shalom, Shalom”, a round to accompany our passing of the Peace. Attend one, some, or all five forty-five minute Centering Prayer workshops structured to draw us deeper into divine Peace. Learn of more Advent Peace offerings by looking for the Advent Road Map published and inserted in the worship bulletin beginning this Sunday.
We come to a close in the liturgical year with Youth Led Worship on Sunday. As always, we will pass the Peace during worship. Our passing the Peace in the life of Epiphany is hearty, to say the least. This is the Peace that passes all understanding. The Peace of reconciliation that comes from Jesus Christ. We pass the Peace as a sign of good will for our neighbor. For some, passing the Peace is putting aside any tension or discord. In so doing, we then ready ourselves as one, united body of Christ to receive Christ’s holy meal. We cannot receive The Lord’s Supper without Peace among each and all. The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
May your Advent journey bring you Peace.
Shalom good friend,
Hillary