Blessed are the Peacemakers

As I write this in the middle of a taciturn winter, it is not

so much the weather, nor even storms like Goretti, that

makes me anxious as much as the apparent threat to the

world order that we have lived under over the past few

decades.

While Around Langley does not as a rule engage in Party

politics, it is difficult to ignore the potential for disastrous

consequences for the world posed by President Donald

Trump who apparently has no regard for international laws

or regulations when it comes to ‘Making America Great

Again’ as he defines it. Why should America alone be great

again? One wonders.

He seems to consider himself a peacemaker. I am reminded

of two of the Beatitudes: Blessed are the meek, for

they shall inherit the earth and Blessed are the

peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. It is as

though through a grotesque twist, a conflation and

misinterpretation of the two, he sees peace-making as a

way to inherit the earth, or the riches of the lands,

whether in Gaza, Ukraine or Venezuela. We pray for world

leaders to rise up, who will genuinely be working for real

peace – peace with justice.

Here is the latest edition of our magazine- a smorgasbord

of offerings which I hope you will find interesting and

topical. It is good to welcome Magdalena Farynska again,

reporting on the future of food, as well as Andrew Grey

discussing aspects of a live issue of importance in medical

and welfare circles, about ‘overprescribing’. Christian Foley

has shared with us a poem about our Planet, which is not

only evocative, but also thought-provoking.

We hope that some of you will find it useful to attend the

Community Connect programmes. The Community Coffee

Shop every Tuesday and Shamrocks Friendship mornings on

Mondays are also regular features that anyone is welcome to

join in, of course.

In the Faith section, Rev. Christopher Ferris draws parallels

between the Tower of Babel story and media of today, and

we are pleased to have another short introduction to a Letter

from Paul in Tony Randall’s account of Philippians. It was

delightful to hear from Kate Cox talking about her favourite

hymns: a response to our invitation last year; I wonder if

anyone else might be now moved to write!