From the Pastor's Desk
May 2026
Peace. Jesus talks a lot about peace in the Resurrection stories. Understandably the disciples are filled with anxiety after watching what happened to Jesus. Will they be next? Will the authorities, political or religious come after them? What are they expected to do now that Jesus is gone? Jesus wastes no time appearing to the disciples, hunkering behind closed doors to both reassure and offer them the peace they will call upon as they move forward without him. He fills the room in which they gather with peace and then blesses them with a more lasting peace that will remain with them as they continue their ministry in the days, years, decades and centuries ahead.
I hear this assurance for peace differently this year. The lingering war threatens the well being of millions of people in the Middle East. On a daily basis, we wonder if reasonable people can broker a peace that will limit the time and destruction that comes with waging war. Will this conflict linger into years or can we find a peaceful solution quickly and appropriately? Pope Leo and the president are engaged in a war of words arguing about peace and the church's call for Christians to be peacemakers. Regardless of your political affiliation, Jesus teaches us that blessed are the peacemakers and his followers we are to seek peace.
As we make our way through a time of unprecedented turmoil and uncertainty, we call upon our faith to provide that safe place to land. We pray for members of our military who are actively involved in conflict, whether in the Middle East or other places in the world. We pray for parents of young adult men and those young adults that now owrry whether they will be the first group of men in decades to be called into service. We pray for our teachers and social workers and health care workers who now serve people with fewer resources than they once had, while they are told there is money to fund the military. We pray for vulnerable communities who are increasingly threatened because of who God has created them to be.
I have the privilege of singing with the Montachusett Chorale. On May 3 we will perform our Spring concert. Many of the pieces we will sing lifts up a vision of peace. We are preparing a song that articulates the questions so beautifully about the possibility of peace. What might it be like to set aside our violence, revenge or retribution. The composer speculates "it could be beautiful." I hope some of you might join us for the concert at St. Leo's on May 3 at 3:00 pm. It will be available to view later in the Spring on Leominster's public access channel. I share with you the moving lyrics of that song, "Can We Sing the Darkness to Light"
What if instead of more violence
We let our weapons fall silent
No more revenge or retribution
No more war or persecution
It could be beautiful
What if instead of our judgement
We soften our hearts that have hardened?
Instead of certainty and pride
We love and sacrifice
It could be beautiful
Can we see the other as our sister and our brother?
Can we sing the darkness to light
Sounding chords of compassion and grace?
Set the swords of judgement aside
Let mercy's eyes see the human face
Can we sing the darkness to light?. . . .
The pursuit of peace is a choice we make; in our personal lives, our communities, our churches and our nation. I invite you to commit or recommit to the pursuit of peace. Please join us in Monument Square on Sunday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. where we will gather to light candles, hear stories and pray for peace. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Lynne
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