Inspired by the courage and peace testimony of David Hartsough, Ukrainian Quakers were moved at the meeting for worship by the bright example of the Friend’s wonderful life. Yurii Sheliazhenko shared his memories, read excerpts from David’s declaration of conscientious objection to military service, and thanked God for the competent conclusion of the Venice Commission on the need for alternative non-military service in Ukraine during the war. Serhii Yamkovenko in his ministry asked the Lord to give us strength to be apostles of peace. Artem Denysov invited seekers to a private meeting for worship on Wednesday, where the spirit moves to nurture inner peace. Friends will maintain our custom of worshipping and witnessing publicly on Sundays under a record, so that the light of the Evangelical Christian Quaker faith may shine in the darkness and be a beacon of hope for every soul, so that the movement of the spirit may be visible and convince people to embrace truth and love, as Jesus Christ proclaimed openly and publicly the Sermon on the Mount, which was recorded and became a legend. Vadym Korzh noted before the meeting that prayer helps us to remain steadfast when Russian drones explode over Ukraine. We also are praying for the health of Pope Francis, being grateful for his prayers for peace in our martyred country.
Artem Denysov:
Friends, I want to share a good news. After discussions at the Care Committee, we introduce an additional Meeting for Worship every Wednesday at 19:00 Kyiv time, in response to requests of some friends who would like to worship privately, not on record.
Also, I want to share that I have completed repair of the laptop for our Friend Andrii, and it will be sent to Andrii’s family next week. I am grateful to the members of the Care Committee for their help with the repair and upgrading, as well as to friends from Germany, and personally to friend Jan for providing the laptop for Andrii.
Friends, I ask you to uphold in the Light my brother Oleksii, who is currently in hospital. My family and I are coping with this situation and do not need help. We only ask for shared faith and prayers, as it is truly said: what people ask in prayer together, it will be done for them in their life (Matthew 18:19).
Yurii Sheliazhenko:
Friends, I am grateful to Artem for his care about starting unprogrammed private Meetings for Worship on Wednesday, not on record. It is important to provide people, who need and request it, the opportunity to cherish inward light and inward peace. I am also moved to remind you how important it is for as many Friends as possible to witness for peace in prayer and in deeds, to witness to the power of the word of Christ, and to testify publicly about our peaceful work for the building of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. It is important to cultivate inner peace in silent prayer at Meetings for Worship, but we must also ensure that the light of the Evangelical Christian faith shines in the darkness, that Quakers are visible, and that people come to public Meetings for Worship with prayer for peace and for the happiness of everyone, and hopefully with the light in conscience understanding our responsibility to care and to work that our prayers will change life of people around. So, the more Friends could join our public Meetings for Worship on Sunday, the better. It would be a beacon of hope, which will help Friends to find inward peace and to build outward peace, to contribute to our peace and social witness, the work for building the Kingdom of Christ here, on Earth, that is a public cause.
Friends, last night, not only did lethal Russian drone attacks keep me awake, but also the thought that the world is missing courageous voices for peace.
A prominent Quaker peacebuilder David Hartsough, with whom I was happy to work together in the international peace movement networks, has gone to heaven.
His book “Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist”, which is accessible in our Quaker library, and audiobook on YouTube, is a perfect example of true Christian life.
He came with Friends to protest against nuclear weapons both at the Kremlin and at the White House, and also he supported the call of Ukrainian Quakers to ban nuclear weapons.
We modelled a strategy of Ukrainian nonviolent resistance to Russian invasion.
He sometimes asked me with care, what is happening with the political persecution for pacifism; David wrote to me: “I hope and pray that the authorities are able to see your humanity simply trying to listen to your conscience rather than become part of the war and killing madness.”
Unfortunately, I will not be able now to tell him that the prosecutor at last appeared in the court via the video conference link and that the next hearing is scheduled for the 22nd May.
David was recognized as a conscientious objector to military service in Pennsylvania during the Vietnam War. He was lucky to live in the United States, where conscientious objection is legally recognized, and not in Ukraine, where at that time, like now, people were mercilessly repressed for their faith, commitment to conscience and refusal to kill.
By the way, the Venice Commission recently published an opinion on the need for alternative non-military service in Ukraine during the war. The opinion points out that the human right to conscientious objection to military service became legally recognized during wars as a reaction to war, and the Commission recalled that Quakers have been opposing all wars throughout four centuries. I am glad that information about this opinion was spread in news and in interfaith communications of Christians, and the Meeting of Friends of Ukraine will continue our work to bring more justice and peace into the public policy.
In his declaration of conscientious objection, David Hartsough wrote: “I believe that there is that of God in every person regardless of race, creed, or nationality. Therefore, killing or even hating any person is injuring part of God himself.” He recalled Christ’s commandments of love from Gospel of Matthew 5:43-48 and explained: “I believe in the power of love as the strongest force in the world. It is the ability to accept suffering rather than inflict suffering that can win over the world. Hatred breeds hatred, while love and understanding try to bring friendship and conciliation.”
I pray for David Hartsough’s family, for all his friends and followers who will continue his work and resist all wars during this difficult time.
I pray for all peaceful Christians, especially those who are persecuted for their faith.
I pray for the health of Pope Francis and hope to hear not only from the Vatican but from every corner of the Earth courageous prayers for peace in Ukraine and peace on the whole common planet of all souls.
Serhii Yamkovenko:
Friends, I want us to pray that there will be more of us, that we will be apostles of Peace. “Apostle” in Greek means “messenger”; we must bring peace and preach peace, because the Lord is the source of peace and light.
A message from John Reuwer:
Friends, I will be with you in spirit today, holding in the light, all of us, who are working for Peace and Justice against the forces of power and money that are crushing human dignity, regardless of whether our governments are supposedly authoritarian or democracies. We thank God for truth and light that shines in the darkness.