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

Last year in August, we prayed while listening to or reading this song, God of the Poor, (Beauty of Brokenness)

Let us do that again this Sunday.
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…

Beauty for brokenness
Hope for despair
Lord, in your suffering
This is our prayer
Bread for the children
Justice, joy, peace
Sunrise to sunset
Your kingdom increase!
Shelter for fragile lives
Cures for their ills
Work for the craftsman
Trade for their skills
Land for the dispossessed
Rights for the weak
Voices to plead the cause
Of those who can’t speak
Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray
Melt our cold hearts
Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love
From a spark to a flame
Refuge from cruel wars
Havens from fear
Cities for sanctuary
Freedoms to share
Peace to the killing-fields
Scorched earth to green
Christ for the bitterness
His cross for the pain
Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray
Melt our cold hearts
Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love
From a spark to a flame
Rest for the ravaged earth
Oceans and streams
Plundered and poisoned
Our future, our dreams
Lord, end our madness
Carelessness, greed
Make us content with
The things that we need

Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray
Melt our cold hearts
Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love
From a spark to a flame
Lighten our darkness
Breathe on this flame
Until your justice
Burns brightly again
Until the nations
Learn of your ways
Seek your salvation
And bring you their praise
Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray
Melt our cold hearts
Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love
From a spark to a flame
Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray
Melt our cold hearts
Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love
From a spark to a fla

Last week we celebrated a Blessing of the Animals service down at the foreshore, so I thought that this Sunday we would repeat a prayer that we prayed this time last year for the animals 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…

Merciful God, tonight we pray especially for the animals terrified, wounded and killed as a result of the brutal war in Ukraine. 

We pray for dogs, cats, horses and other beloved companion animals left behind by their people unable to take them as they flee raining rockets of destruction. 

We pray for animals who have already died or are near death – the victims of shrapnel, gunfire, collapsing concrete and steel from exploding buildings, many months without much food, water or human care. 

We pray for the rescuers of these animals, who risk their lives in the rubble, dodging gunfire and mortars, and give thanks for their generosity, courage and faithfulness in their determination to help. We pray for their safety.

We pray for the missile-ravaged towns and cities and their wooded outskirts where wild creatures are traumatized by every percussive blast, for those that are killed, maimed or displaced and unable to find food or shelter in the chaos of war.

Dear God, we pray for all your creation, and for a time when war will be no more. Amen.

The Rev Marya DeCarlen

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…

Loving God, Creator of all people and source of all love,

we are saddened.

We are saddened by the unleashing of horror and destruction in Ukraine.

We are angry.

We are angry that lives are shattered, that homes are levelled and innocence is trampled.

We are dismayed.

We are dismayed that again the guns of war,

have drowned out the talks for peace.

And we pray.

We pray that hard hearts of conquest will be softened.

We pray that the very best practices of peace will prevail among leaders.

We pray gratefully that your spirit of healing and hope is present, for victims of suffering,

for helpers responding,

for soldiers sent to war,

for leaders deciding.

And we are committed as your people,

as disciples of your gospel of reconciliation,

To wage peace, as we are able, in Ukraine,

and in all your good and lovely creation.

All this we pray in the name and healing spirit of Jesus.

Amen.

(Mennonite Central Committee)

Loving God,
because you have the whole world
in your hands,
cradle gently those who are rocked by fear, shocked to a depth they have never known and frightened to face tomorrow.

On the people of Ukraine: their children, their old people, their vulnerable adults,
their babies soon to be born, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

On the people of Ukraine: their defenders, their advocates, those who care for the wounded, who sit with the despairing,
who witness and report
on the savagery and destruction, who bury the dead.  Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

On the people of Ukraine: their leaders
that they may continue to inspire,
in word and by example,
and continue to receive help and solidarity from across the world. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

On the people of Russia,
that they might learn the truth kept from their hearing;
On the churches in Russia that they might find
the vocabulary and courage
to speak truth to power,

On the soldiers of Russia who do not believe
in the carnage they cause. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

On the Russian president,
and those who affirm his policies, we ask the judgement of heaven, a radical conversion
and an end to their lies, scheming and murder. Lord hear us,
Lord graciously hear us.

And for our own nation
we ask for commitment to match conviction so that the pain of the Ukrainian nation
be shared by us,
their weary people sheltered by us,
their peace assured by us.  Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us. Amen.

(Prayer on the Wild Goose website. It was part of a liturgy for Ukraine.)

A prayer for Ukraine by Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Nations and Church Relations

Borders, barricades, bewilderment…
When the bargaining begins,
God please protect peace.

Sanctions, security measured in minutes and it’s scary…
When safety scatters,
God please protect peace.

War dresses up in peace-keeper’s clothes,
Troops amass, the ground trembles and so do people…
When the future feels fragile,
God please protect peace.

The littlest, the least likely to have a say,
Those whose lives are sanctioned and bargained over –
Violence always finds them first.

And the ‘oh-so-important’ political manoeuvres mean nothing to them.
They just want to live.

When the winners want to wipe them out of the way,
God please protect peace.

We will not turn away. We will stand together –
God give us the strength to protect peace.

Amen

War is terrible but you find us, Loving God.
You find us anxious as conflict rages in the country of Ukraine.
You find us angry at the senseless loss of life,
you find us distressed as civilians are caught up in a terrible war,
you find us grieving over the death of innocent bystanders.

War is terrible but you listen to us carefully, Loving God.
You listen as we ask the politicians, “Can’t you work for a peaceful solution?”
You listen as we say to the aggressors, “Don’t put children or hospitals at risk.”
You listen as we give thanks for countries that welcome those displaced
with big hearts and open arms;
you listen as we fear for journalists who put themselves in danger
to report the truth.

War is terrible but you give us hope, Loving God. 
Hope that leaders will patiently give peace a chance.
Hope that despite the heartache, the terror, and the loss,
places of sanctuary will be found and acts of kindness will take root and grow.
Hope that feelings of revenge for broken livelihoods and broken bodies
will be replaced by a willingness to restore community and to forgive.
We pray in the name of Jesus, crucified one. Amen 

―David Sparks

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…

Gracious and Merciful God,

We pray today for the Ukrainian people and ask for Your intervention in this senseless war levied against them by Russia. We pray, O God, for protection and that there would be peace. We pray for restoration and renewed hope. We pray for the families, especially, the children living through the horrors of war and all the upheaval and tribulation it brings. We also pray for those protesting in Russia against these violent acts by their government. We ask that You would protect, cover and keep these protesters as they put their bodies on the line in the name of what is just and righteous. We pray for the entire world community, including the leaders in our own country. Give them wisdom and ingenuity to respond in ways that ends this war and moves us all to a world where Your peace abides. Hear the cries of Your people, O God. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Amen.

From Dr. Tony Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary, Faith and Order and Interfaith Relations:

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…

Loving God,
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.
Amen.