Blessed are the Peacemakers: Our First Principle and Peace-Making

Rev. Lee Anne Washington

In a world that often confuses strength with domination, our First Principle calls us toward a deeper, sturdier path: peace rooted in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This Sunday we consider what it means to be a peacemaker—not a peacekeeper, not a peace-faker—but one who builds peace through courageous compromise. With wisdom from Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the brave architects of the Northern Ireland peace process, we explore how lasting peace grows not from victory, but from the recognition of each person’s full humanity. Music from our guest choir will weave through the service as we ask: what does peacemaking look like in our time?