Courageously hoping for justice, peace and salvation by the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 14:27), Ukrainian Quakers prayed for the victims of Russian aggression and all who suffer from wars, for more than 500 Christians on the interfaith prayer list who do not take up arms in their hands and minds and have the right to alternative non-military service, but instead suffer persecution. The Friends also prayed for prisoners of conscience Dmytro Zelinsky, Vitalii Kryushenko, Serhy Semchuk and Oleksandr Solonets, who must be immediately and unconditionally released. Friends hold in the light Andrii Vyshnevetsky, who joined our meeting and expressed the joy of worshipping together. Artem Denysov shared news about the repair of a laptop for Andrii donated by the German peace movement Netzwerk Friedenssteuer, brought by Jan Birk, for helping him to learn more about information technologies and sustain his family in this difficult time for Christian pacifists. We are also happy to share the movement of spirit at the meeting for worship with the devout family of Farooq and Mary Javed. Liudmyla Holchanska and Mary Javed wished each other God’s blessings.
Yurii Sheliazhenko:
Friends, I pray for those who have suffered from Russian weapons in Izyum, Myrnograd, Pokrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and other Ukrainian cities.
I pray for all the peaceful people who are dying because of cruel and senseless wars.
I pray for all whose lives are broken by war, for the country that has been devastated, for all those who have troubles because of remaining true to the commandment “thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).
I know that there is an interfaith prayer list for more than 500 Christians who do not take up arms in their hands and thoughts and have the right to alternative non-military service. I pray for every person on this list.
I pray for prisoners of conscience Dmytro Zelinsky, Vitaliy Kryushenko, Serhiy Semchuk and Oleksandr Solonets; they must be immediately and unconditionally released.
I pray for an honest peace that we will come to, despite all fears.
Jesus told us: take courage, do not be afraid.
From the Gospel of Matthew 14:27-32 we know that when Jesus called and Peter walked on the water toward him, he was afraid because of the strong wind and lack of faith and began to sink, but the Lord saved him.
When the faithful follow the call of Christ, overcoming fear, all winds calm.
Our worship and service is not to be conformed to this world and not to be turned like a weathervane to every blow of its winds.
As the apostle Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Romans 12:2, it is better to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may know and accept the will of God, to understand and to do what is good and acceptable and perfect.