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Community Meal

April 9, 2026

“Happy are people who make peace because they will be called God’s children.” (Matthew 5:9, Common English Bible)

Members and Friends of Valley,

In these days immediately following our celebration of Christ’s resurrection to new life, our nation has been consumed with mounting and waning prospects of ongoing violence in the Middle East. Rather than basking in the glow of Easter’s empty tomb, we have, instead, heard warnings about bombings that ― literally, realistically, or not ― would target civilian lives and annihilate a whole civilization.

While it is certainly appropriate to pray for the safety of American soldiers (and all other human beings) in harm’s way, our denomination joins with other faith communities around the globe in denouncing any glorification of violence or religious justifications for war. In a March 17 letter addressed to members of the U.S. Congress, this interfaith coalition wrote:

“As faith organizations, we are called to be peacemakers, and we cannot support investment in a war of aggression…which puts innocent people, both Iranian civilians and U.S. service members, in harm’s way. We affirm a preference for diplomacy and support the allocation of resources to assist the staggering number of displaced people who are the victims of war.”

You may have noticed that in the Common English Bible translation of the Sermon on the Mount, referenced above, the word “happy” is used where we expect to hear the more religious sounding “blessed.” And so, happy, also, are the hopeless and hungry, the grieving and hungry, and persecuted. They are not happy because their condition ― and the path that lies ahead of them ― is comfortable or easy. Instead, they are “happy” because God is with them, and because their cause is righteous; because they are on a path to righteousness.

In the Christian faith, Easter is not just a day, but a season. This coming Sunday, therefore, is the second of the season of Easter, the week after is the third, and so on; until we reach Pentecost on May 24. In this period of time, we will continue to celebrate, share stories about, and give testimony to the good news of the resurrection.

This Sunday ― what is commonly (but, as we now know, mistakenly) called the Sunday after Easter ― is, also, referred to as Bright Sunday or Holy Humor Sunday. Its focus is on the folly of all those who would try to snuff out the light of Christ; it laughs in the face of death’s defeat at the hands of a just and righteous life.

This Sunday, I will be helping to lead worship with our ministry partners at North Church, but you will be in good hands for a fun and uplifting Bright Sunday service, co-led by Marilyn Rodenhausen and Sean Bulanda.

Also, this Sunday, we will be singing the winning song of Valley’s initial Hymn Madness Tournament, which was (drumroll…) “I, The Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I Am)” and will announce prizes for the high and low total average pickers.

As followers of the risen Jesus, we are happy not because life is all easy and breezy, but because we know that God has the power to reverse and bring healing to even what seem like the darkest moments and most un-God-like situations; and that we are invited to be co-participants in those transformations.

As God’s children ― created, beloved, and known ― we can even, therefore, be happy peacemakers, though never fans of or advocates for war. For when any invoke God’s name in battle, God laughs ― or, maybe, cries ― at the thought; and implores us, instead, to be “happy” peacemakers in all the relationships of our lives.

In Christ,
Pastor John

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