Sunday, December 8th, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent invites us into a season of waiting, reflection, and hope—a time when peace feels both distant and near. Peace in Hebrew is “shalom”; which holds undertones of both completeness and wellbeing. Yet, peace often asks something difficult of us: compromise. How do we hold the tension between standing firm in our values and making room for connection and understanding, especially in a time of division and discord, when the lives and livelihoods of many vulnerable beloveds are threatened? In community, compromise and peace-building are not signs of weakness but acts of faith—steps toward deeper connection and shared purpose. Through the lens of Unitarian Universalist values, we’ll explore how the work of peace, rooted in compassion and collaboration, creates the foundation for true liberation and strengthens the bonds that hold us together.