Praying for Peace
Lord, in all times of fear and dread,
Grant that we may so cast our burdens upon you,
That you may bear us on the holy wings of the
Spirit to the stronghold of your peace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Churches across Bath and Wells have been praying for peace in Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion of the country on 24 February. Many are open for those who wish to have a quiet moment of prayer or to light a candle, others have been holding prayer vigils. Bishop Ruth has shared a prayer for Ukraine and we have a prayer wall for those who would like to add their prayers.
Our Education Team has pulled together some useful links and resources to help talk about the situation to children.
Locally church communities are working closely with aid agencies to raise money and to support those in need in Ukraine and those refugees who have fled the country. St Mary’s in Bridgwater has become a donation point for donations of essential items such as, medicines, toiletries and blankets. They have been overwhelmed by the response from their community, many of whom are Polish. The first lot of donations is being collected on Tuesday to go straight on to a lorry to be taken to Lublin, Zamosc and Hrubieszow in Poland, about 100 miles from the border with Ukraine, where they will be distributed by the Red Cross. St Mary's is also working closely with Help for Ukraine Taunton.
In Yeovil, St John's church community have recently forged links with a small church in Moldova, through a couple of Moldovan families living in Yeovil. One of them is to driving to Moldova and has asked for donations of blankets, clothes for women and children, non-perishable items. The church rooms are filling with a great many bags of duvets, pillows, coats and shoes. Moldova stands between Ukraine and Romania. Their long border with Ukraine means they have many refugees who are fleeing Ukraine.
In Frome, Revd Clive Fairclough, Chaplain at Frome Livestock Market, is working with the NFU to find local farmers who have storage space they can offer to local charities collecting large amounts of items.
Meanwhile USPG and the Church of England Diocese in Europe are launching an emergency appeal to get aid to people in desperate need because of the invasion. Funds raised by the appeal will support Christian charities and churches carrying out humanitarian work both in Ukraine and responding to the arrival of refugees in neighbouring countries. Their partners on the ground are providing food, medicine, shelter, care for children and people internally displaced in Ukraine. Donate to the Ukraine emergency appeal.
Other charities with appeals for Ukraine include Christian Aid, UNHCR, Save The Children, Red Cross, With Ukraine.
Vigils are taking place across the diocese.Tom Yacomeni (Locking Castle Church) and Andrew Avramenko (St Stephen's, Bath) both spoke to BBC Bristol on Sunday (listen in at 1hr 10 mins) about vigils in Weston-super-Mare and Bath and their connections and ongoing support to those in the Ukraine.
