Message from the Minister
Dear Friends,

	Peace is one of the great and enduring themes of the Bible. 
	“Shalom” is the Hebrew word for peace. We may be more familiar with “shalom” as a word of greeting, but it is a particularly beautiful word in the Hebrew language signifying not only peace, but wholeness, wellness, harmonious relationships with other people and blessing. Shalom means “everything that makes for a person’s highest good.” For the ancient Israelites, the symbols of shalom were the vine, the fig tree and the cistern – in other words, food and water, the necessities for life.
	The New Testament uses the Greek word, “eirene” (pronounced eye-RAY-nay), and from which the name, Irene, is derived. It too is an active, positive word, communicating much of what we desire in life.“Eirene” became part of the standard greeting and closing blessing of most of the letters in the New Testament. As part of his farewell to the Church in Corinth, Paul writes, “Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11).
	As followers of Jesus we are called to live in peace. But how do we do that in a world where there is violence, war, conflict, and where many relationships are not characterized by peace, wholeness, and health, but marked by hostility, contention, bitterness, alienation, or anger?
	The great medieval theologian, Thomas à Kempis in his book, The Imitation of Christ, wrote, “First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.” 
	Friends, we cannot learn to live in peace with anyone else until and unless we have first learned to be at peace with God and with ourselves. If we are not at peace with God and with ourselves, it should not surprise us if we are not at peace with other people. We cannot share with others what we do not ourselves possess. This is especially true of peace.
	Learning to live in peace does not come from the evasion of problems or issues. Peace is not a passive acceptance of things because we are afraid of the trouble that might be caused by acting on them. True peace requires that problems and issues be faced honestly, even when the choice for peace is itself a struggle.
	Peace starts with the acknowledgment that we all have planted the seeds of conflict, by our action or lack of action. Peace begins with a change of heart, a change of behaviour and attitude. This is why peace is a matter of the spirit. Peace is an active force that comes from the heart, seeking the good of another. 
	How then shall we be peacemakers? The longest journey begins with a first step. When peace seems a long way off, let us think about what might be one small step in the right direction, and ask ourselves: What can I do that would work toward peace? Is there an act of kindness I can show, an evidence of goodwill I can display? What would be one step that would make this situation better, one step that might make another step possible? It truly is daily choices, many choices made within a day.
	The ministry of reconciliation is at the heart of Christian discipleship. Peacemaking is our calling and vocation as followers of Jesus. Let us make our priority right relationships, and our goal mutual respect and trust. Let us join God in the ministry of reconciliation – bridging old divisions, healing old wounds, forgiving old enemies, and forming new friendships. This is not only a matter of hospitality and welcome. It is the practice of loving one another as Christ has loved us. Let us choose to live as peacemakers. 	

	In a few weeks, we will be proclaiming the words, “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!” This ancient greeting sums up what we celebrate on Easter Sunday, the joy of Christ risen and alive in our midst. Let us therefore live as Easter people, as those “born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
	Thank you for your support of the work and ministry of First Baptist Church. It is a joy to serve as your Minister.

Deborah Dempsey