War is cruel and senseless, the most foolish form of human behavior. Mourning at the meeting for worship the tens of killed and near hundred of wounded after Russian ballistic missile strike on Sumy, Ukrainian Quakers prayed that humanity will have the wisdom to get rid of all armies, all deadly weapons, and all borders that divide people, and held in the light all those who suffer from war, including the brothers repressed for refusal to kill, and all people who unjustly deprived of liberty for telling the truth and being true to their conscience. We also sought inspiration in the Advices and Queries of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Ukraine, a brochure recently issued in Ukrainian. Friends found joy in the grace of a sunny spring day in Kyiv. Indeed, with a prayer the war is less scary; compassion, and love, and hope for peace cheers up.
Introduction:
Friends, for the next half an hour we will worship in silence for peace in Ukraine and throughout the Earth. The recording of our prayer will be published so that the light of hope may shine in the spring. May kind words and pauses deepen the peace and joy of our meeting.
Yurii Sheliazhenko:
Friends, let us pray for victims of the ballistic missile strike on Sumy. Let’s hold in the light relatives of those who lost their lives. The city in pain and ruins and needs compassion.
War is cruel and senseless, the most foolish form of human behavior. Let us pray that humanity will have the wisdom to get rid of all armies, all deadly weapons, and all borders that divide people.
I know that the sirens of the air raid alerts disturb us because of the Russian aggression, but we should not be afraid to live our peaceful lives.
Darkness keeps the world in fear, greedy for power, but the light of hope drives away fear and frees people from tyranny.
The time will come when people will be free to demand and have their peace and freedom in every country of the Eurasian continent, and in every country in general. The time will come when people will be able to travel freely from country to country and seek a better life, there will be no division between compatriots and aliens, and instead of weapons of mass killing, money and efforts will be invested into the common good and welfare. The time will come when all wars will be impossible because everyone will refuse to kill.
We, the Quakers, strive to live in such a way as to bring this time closer. Traditions help us in this, and one of them is reflection and seeking inspiration in the “Advices and Queries” of the Meeting of Friends. For example, in 1682, Quakers in England asked themselves the question: how the Truth has prospered amongst them since the last meeting, and how Friends are in peace and unity?
Today we have our own “Advices and Queries of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Ukraine”, they are on the website and this brochure can be requested from our library. I will try to print it for all members of our religious community who wish to receive it. It is a useful book, but it also reminds us of the advice from the Gospel: be guided by the Spirit, not by the letter, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life.
Ivan Kokhan:
Dear friends, today is one of the difficult days of the war. Tragic events in Sumy. But here in Kyiv today the Lord gave us a sunny day, and we hope that the Lord will also give us peace and happiness for everyone in Ukraine and all people in the world.
Farooq Javed:
Friends, happy Palm Sunday 🌿 to you all.
Liudmyla Holchanska:
Thank you.
Vadym Korzh:
I wish all of us a peaceful week.
Conclusion:
Friends, it was so good to worship together, and we were filled with the energy of peace and joy for the week ahead. Let us thank each other and meet for worship on Wednesday.