Sunday 15 May 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…

God of all peoples and nations,

Who created all things alive and breathing,

United and whole,

Show us the way of peace that is Your overwhelming presence.

We hold before you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia,

Every child and every adult.

We long for the time

When weapons of war are beaten into ploughshares

When nations no longer lift up sword against nation.

We cry out to you for peace;

Protect those who only desire and deserve to live in security and safety

Comfort those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones

Be with those who are bereaved.

Change the hearts of those set on violence and aggression

And fill leaders with the wisdom that leads to peace.

Kindle again in us a love of our neighbour,

And a passion for justice to prevail and a renewed recognition that we all play a part in peace.

Creator of all hear our prayer

And bring us peace. Make us whole.

Amen

Map from Encyclopedia Britannica

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…

Look at the map…

pray your own prayer for the people in all of the towns and cities that you can see plus all of those who have fled to the surrounding countries…

We join in prayer in our homes at 7pm each Sunday, to pray for peace to reign, especially during the crisis in Ukraine

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 the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

                             The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

Lord, we ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Lord may your Kingdom come, and Your will be done. 

Lord God, we ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. Lord for those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord hear our prayers. 

Lord, we ask that decisions makers hear Your voice. Parents protecting their families – deciding whether to stay or leave. Church leaders as they support and comfort people. And Lord we ask for wise actions from global leaders – who have the power not only to start wars, but to stop them too.  

And Father God we cry out for an end to this crisis. For mercy, peace, and truth – because You are light, hope, power, and love. Amen. 

From World Vision UK

We join in prayer in our homes at 7pm each Sunday, to pray for peace to reign, especially during the crisis in Ukraine

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 lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)…
… who created us for peace among neighboring countries,
… who gave us wisdom to understand each other,
… who teach us love to resolve differences without war.

God of peace, in your mercy!
Whisper your wisdom into the ears of the leaders of nations,
That their mouths speak of peace
That their hands protect the children
That their eyes find you.
That their decisions are in the direction of stopping the war in Ukraine.
God of peace, in your mercy!

Source: World Day of Prayer 2022 https://www.worlddayofprayeraustralia.org/wdp2022/

“Parting is such sweet sorrow”

27 November 1932 – 15 April 2022

Ray’s Celebration of Life and Farewell will be held on Saturday 23rd April, 2022 at 11am,

Toronto Uniting Church, 118 The Boulevarde, Toronto.

The link to view the service online is https://youtu.be/hzvSj7ELE_8

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray’s memory are invited to Act for Peace’s appeal for the crisis in Ukraine https://actforpeace.org.au/ukraine/

This week we join in prayer with this video of the song “Your Spirit Groans for Peace (Ukraine)”

VERSE 1
When evil comes upon us
we will stand before this house and implore you.
We cry in our distress, 
you will hear our desperate prayer and deliver.

PRE CHORUS 1 
This nation groans, foundations shaking,
terror stalks the streets today.

CHORUS 1
Your Spirit groans for peace, 
your Spirit groans for truth,
your Spirit groans for justice,
we groan along with you.

VERSE 2
Though sword may come upon us,
we will stand before this house and implore you.
We cry in our distress, 
you will hear our desperate prayer and deliver.

PRE CHORUS 2 
This nation groans, your people quaking,
stay the hand of hate today.

CHORUS 2
Your Spirit groans for peace, 
your Spirit groans for truth,
your Spirit groans for justice,
we groan along with you.

BRIDGE
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.

[OPTIONAL VERSE 3]
Should famine come upon us,
we will stand before this house and implore you.
We cry in our distress, 
you will hear our desperate prayer and deliver.

Lyrics and Music: Sam Hargreaves and Andy Flannagan
©2022 Downwardly Mobile Music – www.andyflan.com, ChurchSongs.co.uk CCLI # 7193528. Further information, including downloadable video, mp3 and sheet music from https://engageworship.org/spiritgroans

Each Sunday at 7pm we join in a time of prayer at home, for peace in Ukraine. Let’s begin…

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 peace and justice,

who change the hardened heart

and break the power of violence,

we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.

Protect them in this time of peril;

let them know not death but life,

not slavery but freedom.

You are Father of all;

we are brothers and sisters.

Give us the strength

to live that truth in love,

choosing peace, not war.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 

Each Sunday at 7pm we join in a time of prayer at home, for peace in Ukraine. Let’s begin…

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…

O God, the refuge and strength of all,
You hold the people of Ukraine in the palm of your hand.
The name of each person there,
Is written on your heart.

In the darkness of invasion
And in the mire of political machinations,
Spread we pray, the light of hope and of justice
And of peace.
Encourage those who are frightened,
To find strength in you
And in those around them –
Near and far.

Help the worldwide family of nations
To respond in love
With outstretched hearts,
Open minds,
And with too, the wisdom needed
to effect a peace that lasts.

Save us we pray,
From not caring enough.
For your Son’s sake.

A prayer from the Church of Scotland

A large group of men had an enjoyable coffee and chat at Rathmines last Monday

The next men’s coffee morning with be Monday 2nd May 2022 at 10am

Each Sunday at 7pm we join in a time of prayer at home, for peace in Ukraine. Let’s begin…

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…

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
I pray in search for peace in Ukraine
give peace a chance in the time of war
in the world’s history.

O Lord,
enlighten the rulers
they may defend the gift of peace;
We denounce deadly armed force,
call on all leaders back to dialogue;
to respect the international law
to protect lives within the bound of peace.

The LORD is close to the broken-hearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ (Psalm 34:18)
Give the injured your healing spirit,
Give the dead a rest in peace,
Give the displace a community of peace
Give the world a moment of peace
This is the peace
that the world cannot give,
but only comes from your son Jesus Christ.

O Spirit,
move the hearts of millions into prayer
for peace blossom forth.
Reign over the peoples and the region
with your boundaries of peace,
Let the Spirit of life
connect the people in their fear
and unify their hopes into
a potency of building peace.

O Christ,
we pray for the Ukrainian communities in Australia.
for brothers and sisters in the Orthodox tradition,
and for ourselves.
We pray for
those have been exposed to
the trauma of being caught in the crossfire,
the fear overwhelmed by a deliberate force.
We pray for
an immediate end to the armed hostilities
a protection for all lives threatened by the conflict.

Come, O God of peace,
Move the world out of darkness,
Bring all people into the light.
Send love to each broken-hearted,
Make your Church an instrument of world’s peace.

For peace in Ukraine.
We pray
in the name of Christ.

Amen.

Prayer written by Rev Dr Ji Zhang 张骥, Theologian-in-Residence, Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly