“Let them turn away from evil and do good;

let them seek peace and pursue it.”

—1 Peter 3:11

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

With the attack by Russia on Ukraine, war is again ignited in Europe. This assault threatens peace throughout the continent and indeed the whole world. This urgent and evolving crisis requires the attention and solidarity of the global Christian community.

As the Scriptures encourage us to turn away from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it, we consider such an unprovoked attack as evil, and strive to do all we can to stand against it—while also preparing to assist those impacted by it.

We call on our members, partners, and all people of faith to pray for peace and the immediate cessation of the invasion of Ukraine.

Further, we—along with the Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, and Conference of European Churches—invite you to an online prayer service for Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, 2 March, at 17:00 (CET) as a sign of global solidarity with the people and churches of Ukraine. Please click through this link to register for the service: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d04eX7l4S_WEmFBXIV17wQ

We are also working with members and partners in Europe to prepare assistance for people fleeing the violence. We will inform you of ways in which you can help.

Finally, we ask you to advocate to your governments on behalf of the Ukrainian people—urging them to use all non-violent means to pressure the Russian government into stopping their attack, withdrawing their military forces, and turning instead to constructive discussions.

We close with a prayer for Ukraine from the Church of Scotland:*

The news can be difficult to listen to and to read.

When that news relates to faces we know

And to voices familiar to us,

It becomes all the harder to hear.

Lord God,

We ask you to hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart.

Protect them, we pray;

From violence,

From political gamesmanship,

from being used and abused.

Give, we pray,

the nations of the world the courage

and the wisdom

to stand up for justice

and the courage too,

to dare to care - generously.

Lord in your mercy,

Take from us all,

The tendencies in us

That seek to lord it over others:

Take from us those traits

that see us pursuing our own needs and wants

before those of others.

Teach us how to live in love

And dignity

And respect - following your example.

In your name and for your sake,

Amen

Blessings,

Najla Kassab

President, WCRC

Martina Wasserloos

President, WCRC Europe

Hanns Lessing, Philip Vinod Peacock, Phil Tanis

Collegial General Secretariat

Source►WCRC

* Issued by Lord Wallace, moderator of the General Assembly, and Very Rev. Dr. Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum.

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay