All posts by Toronto-admin

Prayer for Ukraine

Toronto Uniting Church

Sunday 10 July 2022

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself and pray…

“I No Longer Pray For Peace”
On the edge of war, one foot already in,
I no longer pray for peace:
I pray for miracles.
I pray that stone hearts will turn
to tender-heartedness,
and evil intentions will turn
to mercifulness,
and all the soldiers already deployed
will be snatched out of harm’s way,
and the whole world will be
astounded onto its knees.
I pray that all the “God talk”
will take bones,
and stand up and shed
its cloak of faithlessness,
and walk again in its powerful truth.
I pray that the whole world might
sit down together and share
its bread and its wine.
Some say there is no hope,
but then I’ve always applauded the holy fools
who never seem to give up on
the scandalousness of our faith:
that we are loved by God……
that we can truly love one another.
I no longer pray for peace:
I pray for miracles.
(A poem by Ann Weems)

Prayer for Ukraine

Blog Posts, Toronto Uniting Church

Sunday July 3rd

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the

world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself and pray…

God, the unthinkable has happened.

Swiftly, relentlessly,
by stealth and through open destruction,
the peace and beauty of the ordinary,
has been shattered in a day.

O God of justice and might,
We call to you to come and bring this suffering to an end.
Comfort these trembling hearts.
Shield the vulnerable.
Strengthen those with the resources and the resolve
to protect what they love
in the face of such overwhelming force.

Grant wisdom to the nations of our world, to our leaders, and to us,
to grasp the unfathomable,
to see evil in its true light,
and come against it unflinchingly.

Dear Ukraine,
though we shudder to watch what is happening
We will not look away.

(Kate Bowler)

Prayer for Ukraine Sunday June 26th

Blog Posts, Toronto Uniting Church

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself and pray…

May God give wisdom and courage

to those who work for peace.

We pray that their efforts may be blessed,

that they may bring an end to violence

and solace and stability to suffering peoples.

May the gift of peace permeate all troubled souls,

convert all who live by violence

and comfort all children who live in menacing situations,

that the freedom to enjoy life and grow in safety may be theirs.

And may each one of us know

peace of mind and heart,

peace of body and spirit,

peace of community and world.

Prayer for Ukraine Sunday June 19th

Blog Posts, Toronto Uniting Church

 Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself and pray…

God of Mercy, We pray for Ukraine.
For all of humanity distorted by war.
For all the lives lost, homes seized and peace broken.
May the Spirit of comfort and compassion envelop all who dwell in fear.
May the Spirit of wisdom and humility enliven our global leaders.
May we affirm the dignity and rights of all.
May we seek peace.

Prayer for Ukraine Sunday June 12th

Blog Posts, Toronto Uniting Church

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself and pray…

How do we pray for peace from half a world away?

How can words salve and soothe real wounds,

Assuage real tears, Wipe tears from real eyes?

God of endless compassion, transform our prayers

From words into bridges, that span the distances

Between us, uniting our hearts in yours.

Every time we turn our keys in a lock,

May we remember all who are losing their homes.

Every time we step into our cars,

May we remember all those who are having to flee.

Every time we embrace our children,

May we remember all who are trying to shield theirs from war.

May our besieged sisters and brothers

Be drawn into the arms of the suffering Christ,

And may our cry be heard as one voice,

Ringing out from every corner of the earth:

God of endless mercy, grant us peace.

Amen.

Cameron Bellm

UNITING HATS FOR HOMELESS

Blog Posts

Eight ladies from our congregation are now creating beanies, scarves etc. etc. towards this outreach to the homeless and needy.   To date this year a total of 303 beanies (plus scarves, slippers etc.), have been provided to Carrie’ Place Women’s Refuge (Maitland), Miracle Babies (Sydney), Survivors R Us (Elermore Vale), Reach Homeless Services (Hamilton), St Stephen’s Early Bird Café (Sydney), Mum’s Cottage (Holmesville) and also some to First Nation’s peoples.  Generous donations of wool have been very appreciated.

Prayer for Ukraine

Blog Posts, Toronto Uniting Church

Sunday 5th June 2022

Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ, wept over Jerusalem.

Today, we weep over Ukraine.

We weep for those uprooted from their homes and lives.

We weep for those cowering in basements.

We weep for those who have witnessed death and destruction on their streets.

We weep for those separated from their parents, from children, from spouses and siblings.

We are amazed at the resilience of people seeking to comfort those in need and so we pray for

Governments opening up borders so that Ukrainians can have safe passage.

We pray for churches and individuals providing food, clothing and shelter.

We pray for medical workers ensuring that shattered bodies are put back together again.

We pray for ordinary Russians demonstrating and voicing their disapproval of the military actions in Ukraine.

May the Holy Spirit give us the willpower to turn our tears into action also.

May we, through your words, prayers and example pursue the things that make for a just peace in the world today and especially in Ukraine.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

UK Methodist Church

Reconciliation Sunday 29 29 May 2022

Toronto Uniting Church

 On Reconciliation Sunday, we listened to some Aboriginal Christian leaders talking  about Reconciliation as “Love in Action”.  We heard from the book of Revelation a reading in Yumplatok about the tree of life whose leaves are for the “healing of the nations”.    We looked at a long list of injustices still being experienced by Indigenous People in Australia today, and wrote the name of an injustice on a leaf as a sign of our commitment to pray for and learn more about it. Then we placed the leaf on the gumtree banner that now hangs in our hall to remind us of our commitment.

Prayer for Ukraine

Uncategorized

Prayer for Ukraine Sunday May 29th

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself and pray…

God of Love, God of Peace

God of Justice and Mercy

We join in prayers with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and around the world

That those who are fearful will be comforted

That those who have power will be wise and compassionate

That those who feel powerless will know that they are held

That the churches of Ukraine might be places of safety and sanctuary

That we might all be lights that shine in the darkness

We ask in the name of the Prince of Peace, that peace and love will reign in Ukraine and in the hearts of its people. Amen.

Mission without Borders – Australia

Prayer for Ukraine – Sunday 22 May 2022

Uncategorized

John Rutter is a composer.  On hearing about the invasion of Ukraine he asked himself, “How can a composer respond to a global tragedy? The first thing I wanted to do was write some music that would respond in my own way. I hope the meaning of the text will resonate in people’s hearts and reach out to the people of Ukraine in their hour of need”.

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.

Centre yourself,

pray the following one-line prayer for Ukraine,

 click on the link,

and then listen…

“God Lord, protect the Ukraine. Give her strength, faith, and hope, our Father. Amen.”

John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. https://youtu.be/lJl3kVwl2-U