Ukrainian Friends worshipped for peace on the sunny spring day, talked about participating in the conference of the Quaker Universalist Group, rejoiced in the diversity of spiritual experiences and asked ourselves whether we are caring enough about the equality and happiness of women in society. The spirit of Mother Nature calls us to give birth and nurture new life with love. The joy of life overcomes all the sorrows, which were enough last week: the terrible bombing of Kyiv, the passage to heaven of Pope Francis, who was a voice of hope for peaceful Christians of the world. We hold in the light all who suffer because of wars and injustices, such as the compulsion to fight; we peacefully resist Russian aggression; we find time for the soul, studying Quakerism more deeply.
Introduction:
Friends, on this sunny spring day we will worship for half an hour in peaceful silence, that inspires words of ministry in the spirit of truth. Our worship will be recorded and published, for the sacred light must shine for everyone.
Yurii Sheliazhenko:
Friends, thank God, we survived a difficult week. The bombing of Kyiv with ballistic missiles. The extension of martial law and mobilization until August. The loss of Pope Francis, whose prayers for peace were a spiritual support for peaceful people around the world. He is probably happy in heaven that even his burial created new opportunities for peace negotiations.
I know that we all have many responsibilities and barely have time for spiritual life. There is family, work, health, activism. And yet, there should be a place for your soul in life, a source of joy for oneself and care for others. I support the blood donorship witness of Artem and Serhiy, which is especially important for peaceful resistance to war. I was glad to learn from Ivan and Artem that despite many things in life taking time, the Friends care to study Quakerism, seek answers to questions.
This week I was busy with human rights work, speaking at a peace movement conference and explaining that unless peace movements are active in nonviolent resistance to Russian aggression and all forms of war, the militarists will dictate their cruel rules and turn the Earth into hell.
At the end of the week, thanks to the invitation of Daniel Flynn, I participated in a conference of the Quaker Universalist Group, which is based on the idea that spiritual awareness is accessible to everyone of any religion or none, and no one person and no one faith has the final revelation or monopoly of truth. The group organizes meetings for worship and sharing and delights in the diversity of many different ways in which spiritual awareness may be expressed, including theology, creativity, literature, art, music, activism, international and interfaith connections in search for peace and justice.
The conference I attended was dedicated to the theme of women and the sacred. During the conference, I reflected on how we can spiritually transcend our biological and social boundaries, the characteristics that we have by nature and by fulfilling our role in society. When a man connects with the Divine in silent worship, should he transcend himself and find within himself not only the masculine but also the feminine, the spirit of Mother Nature, which calls us to give birth and nurture new life with love? Are we caring enough about the equality and happiness of women in society?
Artem Denysov:
Dear Friends, yesterday I had the opportunity to learn much more about the Bulgarians in Bessarabia, who found refuge in Ukraine during the Ottoman invasion. They have a Christian religious community called “Bearded Man”, which arose a century ago and survived persecution during the Soviet era. I am glad for their resilience and that they were sheltered in Ukraine. In my opinion, this is a wonderful experience of the hospitality that prevails in Ukraine, which was and is open to those who suffer, and this is a wonderful manifestation of the friendly attitude of people towards each other that prevails in Ukraine.
John Reuwer:
I very much wanted to be with you today. You are in my heart always. You have my prayers and light, even as I ask yours to defend against those trying to destroy love and freedom in the US.
Farooq Javed:
God bless you 😇
Conclusion:
John, Kristen, we are holding in the Light all Friends in the United States, and it is always a pleasure to worship with you for peace everywhere and for justice which is much needed in your country, in our country, and everywhere else.
Friends, our spring Quaker meeting for worship for peace, as always, has brought us quiet joy. We continue to care about all those who suffer from wars and other injustices, including coercion into killing against personal conscience. We hold in the light such people. Thank you, Friends. See you at the next meeting for worship.