“Let There Be Peace on Earth”

PGMC completed its holiday concert series when the last refrain of “Thankful” reverberated through the rafters of the First United Methodist Church in Eugene this past Saturday.  The Holiday Show is probably my favorite concert of the year as it brings together much of the music I grew up with.  While “Joy to the World” and “Angels from the Realms of Glory” evoke the Christmas spirit of years past, “Sure on this Shining Night” and “Ring Those Christmas Bells” highlight the growing repertoire of quickly established new holiday standards.  Add into that mix “Thankful” and “Parting Glass” and you have the makings of a wonderful concert experience that touches the heart and soul in different but profound ways.

But, perhaps no song evokes more response in these days of uncertainty than “Let There Be Peace on Earth”.  While I have to admit that this hasn’t always been at the top of my list of favorite songs (who hasn’t heard this song totally eviscerated by a singer or two in their lifetime) I have to admit that the version the chorus performed was powerful and touching.  It was one of my favorite moments of the concert.

We live in stressful times. The world around us seems poised on a precipice.  We tiptoe around, hoping that things don’t spiral out of control.   Yet, in spite of the chaos around us, music finds a way to calm and soothe us.  I don’t know how many times I have heard a concert goer say “I have been so stressed out by things in the world.  I came to your concert tired and weary.  Thank you for reviving my sense of hope, for providing me the opportunity to forget, even if for just a moment, the things happening outside in the world we live in.  Thank you for the gift of music!”

While a PGMC concert will never be the answer to world peace in our times – it most definitely allows one to forget the stresses of the outside world, just for a moment, and gives us an opportunity to reconnect with our humanity.

As we go into the final days before Christmas, please accept our sincere wishes for a most wonderful holiday season.  May you find yourself surrounded by those you love and hold dearest.  May we remember that acceptance and forgiveness is a gift more precious than any material offering one may find under the tree.  Finally, let us all recommit to working in unison towards a common vision of peace in our lifetime.