An ancient prayer is, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”  When I
was privileged enough to visit this Holy City I saw numerous signs
in various languages all over the city, all with the same wording.
In our ongoing study of the psalms on Sunday mornings, we have
discovered many verses with those same words - pray for peace
in Jerusalem.  Even the vary name “Jerusalem” contains the word
“salem” or, as we know it better, “shalom.”  The city of peace.....
Kind of ironic isn’t it?  The city with peace in its name has been
the scene of much violence for more than three thousand years.
While our Christmas observances center more on the towns of
Nazareth and Bethlehem, whenever we sing “sleep in heavenly
peace,” we cannot help but think of all of Israel.  And when we
think of Israel, we consider along with the nation, the peoples who
live there - Jews and Palestinians and Christians and Muslims and
people of little faith, as well.  This leads us, naturally, to consider
the whole region known as the Middle East - Israel, Jordan, Egypt,
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran among other smaller places we
hear about on the news. 

The Christmas season seems to emphasize that part of the world
where we Christians understand that the Son of God was born, the
Messiah, the Prince of Peace.  We can hear the angels singing,
“Glory to God and peace on earth,” to announce that holy birth.
Perhaps this peace we long for has been promised not only for the
city of Jerusalem and the Nation of Israel, but also for the whole
world.  I recall that postage stamps on letters were cancelled with
the words, “Pray for Peace,” for many years.  And the songs we
know and sing and love for this season are filled with images of
peace - Silent Night: “Sleep in heavenly peace;” O Little Town of
Bethlehem: “peace to all the earth;” It Came Upon the Midnight
Clear: “Peace on the earth, good will to all;” Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing: “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners
reconciled;” even the music itself brings a calm and a peace in the
midst of a hectic time of the year.  Our liturgy is filled with peace,
also - ‘In peace let us pray to the Lord;” “For the peace of the
whole world;” “The peace of the Lord be with you always;” “Lamb
of God, grant us peace;” “The Lord bless you and keep you.... and
give you peace;” “Go in peace, serve the Lord.”

And so once again we pause, if only for a moment at the altar for
the Candlelight Eucharist, to pray for peace, to share some peace,
and to receive some peace - peace for our world, peace for our
community, peace for our families, and peace for our hearts.  May
you all have more than a moment of peace this Advent and Christmas
time.  And may we always remember to pray for the peace of the Holy
City, Jerusalem - and for the whole world.  What a Christmas present
that would be.  “Sleep in heavenly peace..........”
Pastor Steve