AMHERST — Russia’s ever-escalating war with Ukraine, now in its 10th month, shows no signs of slowing, piling up casualties right through the holidays.
But in 1914, in the horrific midst of World War I, 100,000 British and German soldiers ventured out of trenches on the Western Front, met in no-man’s land, shared food, drink and tobacco, sang Christmas carols and even played soccer.
Soon, they were back shooting at each other, but that brief stoppage and the spirit there-in, is something that could be seized and used as a catalyst for real peace — or so believes the International Peace Bureau.
Answering a call initiated by the Fellowship of Reconciliation-USA, CODEPINK and the National Council of Elders, area religious leaders of five faiths and peace activists gathered on the Amherst Common, Saturday, for a prayer vigil calling for a Christmas Truce in Ukraine, specifically from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7.
“The way out of war will not be a military solution,” states the reconciliation fellowship’s call, “it requires powers of a different sort …”
“We call upon our government to sit down and seriously negotiate a truce,” said the Rev. Peter Kakos, former pastor of Edwards Church in Northampton. “Over a thousand religious leaders from all over the country have signed onto the international appeal.”
Some of the earliest signatories were the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Liz Theoharis, Cornel West and famed orator Bishop William Barber.
“We are joining an international call for a Christmas truce, to bring an end to this war and hopefully all the others,” said Northampton activist Paki Wieland of CODEPINK.
Calling the vigil an “important and solemn occasion,” Lynne Griesemer, of the Amherst Town Council, mentioned the toll war takes on civilian populations — “… where we see war, hurting people, taking their food away and making it unbearable to live. We hope that a cease-fire symbolizes a new beginning of negotiations … that comes to triumph over the hatred and violence that we currently see dominating the world.”
Amid the striking of drums, Sister Clare Carter of the New England Peace Pagoda said, “This is the call that has brought us together,” further urging the U.S. to “negotiate a settlement, before the conflict results in nuclear war and annihilates all of God’s creation.”
“Just a month ago a cease- fire was not a popular idea,” she said. “Today we have the French President Macron calling for a cease-fire as the only possible way forward, and we’ve heard from the German Chancellor Scholz and the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley.”
The crowd of about 80 had a baby boomer look to it, but there were plenty of young faces beaming forth as well, including 12-year-old Bela Miller, who implored: “They who make peace in the high places, may they bring peace upon us and upon all ... and see that we are all imperfect but all deserve a chance to be at peace.”
Phyllis Keenan of Northampton Friends Meeting told the crowd: “In the manner of Quakers, we worship in silence and wait to hear what God wants to say to us.”
Even the traffic on South Pleasant Street seemed to quiet, like the distant shoosh of skis.
“Dear God,” she resumed, “we ask that everyone in Ukraine and elsewhere be able to live, be warm, and have enough food and water. We ask that those of us here take action, that we don’t live a life that needs war.”
Ambling to the microphone came octogenarian Sister Jane Morrissey of the sisters of St. Joseph, who called out: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Abide in love and God will abide in you and you in God. It can start happening with each of us at any moment — and all of us.”
The Rev. Andrea Ayvazian, associate pastor of Springfield’s Alden Baptist Church, reminded the crowd that Isaiah 2:4, a staple of peace gatherings, worked best as a round, and in strong voice she led them, her boots marching in time, as singers remarkably echoed one another all the way to the rousing “nations shall learn war no more” refrain, while depositing stones in a turquoise basin in the middle of the circle, for later transport to the Tree of Peace at the Peace Pagoda.
Kakos read proclamations from Shaykh Mirza Yawar Baig of the Islamic Society of Western Mass and from Mayor Nicole LaChapelle of Easthampton, who, referring to the 1914 truce, said, “The human spirit can be a powerful force.”
Wieland then exhorted the assembled to “Sign your name to the International Peace Bureau to let the whole world know where you stand.”
And, funny thing about songs of peace—those singing to end war pick them up quickly. A woman, not part of the planned program, took to the mic identifying herself as “One of the people, that’s who I am,” and led the crowd in a song she’d initially composed for the opioid crisis, “Rise up and show the world you’re caring.” By the third verse the audience knew the number like they knew Isaiah 2:4, and sang it lustily.
Kakos closed with Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is a thing with feathers, it perches on the soul...”
Afterward, people had a hard time saying goodbye, moved as they were. “I think it matters what happened here,” said Sarah Buteux, pastor of First Churches. “I felt something move here. I loved the interfaith aspect of it. Religion gets a bad rap these days for very good reasons, and (it’s good) to see so many people show up for peace, inspired by their faith, proving that religion should be love.”
For people of little or no faith, she said, “Prayer is just one expression of our intention … there’s no wrong way to bring peace into the world.”
As for reaching Vladimir Putin, Buteux said, “Nothing is impossible. Every little bit of peace might lead to more peace.”
And for learning that new song in a matter of seconds, Morrissey said “Yes! I think I felt it inside me. Maybe we were co-composers and didn’t even know it,” she said with a laugh.