Photo evening calm in the Lake District. Gill Henwood
Begin your prayer there… these words were written some years ago from the Nuns of West Malling in a little book of meditations. They are both simple and profound.
When my friend, Gill Henwood, sent me the photograph from the Lake District which she named, ‘Evening Calm’, I thought the words from West Malling `fitted the view.
Both the photograph and the words are a reminder that whatever the world appears to be right now, it is not all that it is! Gill comments, “I am finding that ‘communing’ with nature gives an eternal perspective in these dark days. The rhythms of light and dark, stars, moon and sun, budding flowers and trees all speak of a deeper creating. Love embedded in this world of human failure and violence reminds me that there are millions of fellow travellers who are people of good heart and faithful service and deep kindness ~ and of course that includes all creatures, like my lovely dogs!!” (Gill)
PS – not forgetting Mr G’s cat Pagli, the sponsor of this Blog.
If humanity does not rid the world of war;it will be war that will throw humanity out of history.
February 24th marks the beginning of the 3rd year of the War that Putin of Russia is waging against Ukraine. There is a growing sense of weariness amongst Ukraine’s western allies and a preoccupation with other conflicts. How easy to would be to abandon the people of Ukraine to a fate that is unthinkable. Above is artwork by Shamsai Hassani, the artist from Afghanistan who continues to draw our thoughts and prayers to the plight of our world and therefore of each other. I have given the title of this piece, Our Father..the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer. It begins in Ukranian. If you are able, please pray it in your own language.
The Prayer below has been written by a Ukrainian family who are being hosted by the Black Country Methodist Circuit. Lord God of power, You alone work miracles, so be kind to all and hear us. Help us God, our Saviour, and deliver the people of Ukraine from persecution. Come to our aid and destroy the intentions and unrighteous boldness of those who go to war against our people. Calm those who oppose your commandments. Grant us all peace, salvation and joy in our hearts. For you are protection and salvation for those who trust in you. We give you glory, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen
The prayer below is a response to a request by the United Reform Church (UK) made to young people who are refugees in the UK. They were asked what we should pray for on the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
God who hears, For two years we have prayed, mourned and lamented. Two years of war in Ukraine. Two years of invasion, of violence, of death. Sometimes it slips from news broadcasts and from people’s consciousness. But we know you, O God, have not forgotten. We hold before you refugees who still feel like strangers, unsure when or if they will ever see and hug loved ones again. Keep safe those who remain in Ukraine. Protect them from the mental and physical wounds of war. We ask for a miraculous end to this bloodshed. Help us, even when we feel powerless, to act where we can. To care, to listen, to sit with those who grieve. To give, to protest, to continue to pray:
Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as in Heaven. Amen.
Отче наш, що єси на небесах, Нехай святиться Ім’я Твоє. Хай прийде Царство Твоє, нехай буде воля Твоя Як на небі, так і на землі Хліб наш насущний дай нам сьогодні. І прости нам провини наші, як і ми прощаємо винуватцям нашим. І не введи нас у спокусу, але визволи нас від лукавого. Бо Твоє є Царство, і сила, і слава навіки. Амінь
[Lord’s Prayer in Ukranian checked by Tania Andrienko of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv]
Josefina de Vaconcellos. The fled by night. [detail] photo by Mr G. Statue is in Cartmel Priory in the Lake District.
A Prayer for the Human Race
This week, the British Parliament has passed the Illegal Immigration Bill(aptly if mistakenly named!). It seeks to curb refugees from arriving illegally via the English Channel. The Bill is part of measures aimed at curbing those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. Some would see these measures as illegal in themselves and members of the House of Lords sought to amend the Bill to make it more humane. These amendments mostly failed. One of the leaders in seeking such amendments to the Bill was the Archbishop of Canterbury. What is at stake is how we treat each other. So below is a prayer which applies to the whole human race in our dealings with each other.
The Statue by Josefina is inspired by verses in St Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 2. Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus are seeking safety in Egypt . They are escaping the tyranny of King Herod. He represents the many who followed him throughout history, as tyrants, despots, dictators and destroyers of humanity, not to mention wholesale destruction of creation, and life itself. Herod, seeing a threat to his power, after a visit from the Magi, or Wise Men,determines to seek out Jesus and kill him. In the process he murders all in innocent babies in his land. Despots and seekers of power stop at nothing. The Holy Family stand as Icons for those who have fled their homelands to seek for safety and welcome. They are a reminder of the of the vast movement of humanity who, at any one time, are wandering and seeking a home, shelter, love and care as they escape danger imposed on their lives by others. Most of these journeys are caused by fellow humans who seem incapable of living peaceably with others. Some of these are seekers of power and often rule by force, cruelty and by destroying all opposition.
Our Planet is in a very sorry state right now and almost all that is wrong with it is due to action by the human race. Also, of course, by our inaction, because if we worked together it could be an amazing place to live. Maybe those species who take over from us when we have destroyed ourselves, will do it differently. There is,however, time for us to make a difference but it will demand a complete change of heart and a repentance which will rely on faith, love and a renewal of kindness.
The prayer below reminds us that we are all part of this. None of us is exempt from a duty of care, being seekers of justice, and welcomers of all in need. With some slight adaption, the prayer can be prayed by people of differing faiths and as a multi-faith intention to work together for our planet’s good.Ultimately, we all belong to each other and to God, however we express that. Genuine, hearfelt prayer always leads to deepening of purpose, a bursting forth of love, and a commitment to peace, justice, compassion and dedication to the common good.Out of that journey by the Holy Family to Egypt came an amazing commitment on the part of God to love us all and open us to love in return. You could say that in fleeing by night the human race fled into universal love under God. It just takes a deep humility to express that!
Nova Kakhovka dam : satellite image, Maxar technologies
Prayer in the face of destructionof Nova Kakhovka dam
With humanitarian and ecological disasters still unfolding, it is already clear that tens of thousands of people have been deprived of drinking water, many are homeless, crops are ruined, land mines have been displaced, and the stage is set for long-term electricity shortages. Evacuation efforts are under way – about 3,000 have fled so far – amid a sense of despair as people try to wade through the rising floodwaters to safer locations. (Aljazeera)
Please pray for people to be saved, for rescuers and all who are helping to evacuate people.
Prayer for Kherson ( Херсо́н)and those parts of Ukraine which are flooding.
God, we pray for the city of Kherson, and the communities affected by the flooding caused by the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam.
Be with all those who have lost homes, livelihoods, and the things that sustain life; farmers with destroyed crops, animals especially domestic pets abandoned; bewildered children and elderly; those without pure drinking water and trying to cope with the destruction caused by the wickedness and the evil of Mr Putinand those who, with him, commit crimes against humanity.
We pray for that other humanity, kind, caring and compassionate who are involved in rescuing, sheltering, comforting all who are suffering. For your blessing, Lord, on their unstinting and self-less actions.
In the face of all this mayhem, upheaval and despair, May you be in the midst of all that pain, upholding and sustaining your people in this time of great need.
Bless too, Mr Zelensky and all working with him as he faces more and more difficulties in the face of which he must build up spirits and keep before his people a vision which will one day be accomplished. Sustain and uphold him and keep him safe.
Help us all, Lord, to hold in our hearts and our love those who are stretching out their arms to us with hope and numbness.
Give us all the will to work for peace. Lord, have mercy. Amen
Mr G's Ponderings 