• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Edwards Church

United Church of Christ | Saxonville, Massachusetts

  • About
    • Staff
    • Open and Affirming
    • FAQ
    • Accessibility
    • History
    • Rentals
  • Worship
  • Faith Formation
  • Mission
  • Music
  • Serving
    • Ministry of Congregational Life
    • Ministry of Outreach and Justice
    • Ministry of Spiritual Life
    • Ministry of Administration
  • Sermons
  • Rentals
  • Giving

Praying for the people of Ukraine

February 24, 2022 by Rev. Debbie Clark

Dear friends,

 

Last night and today, I have watched news of the invasion of Ukraine with horror and terror.

 

I am horrified for the people of Ukraine. I cannot imagine what it would be like to wake up to the sound of bombs. I cannot imagine what it would take to stand firm and fight back when the odds seem so overwhelming. I cannot imagine facing the possibility of our nation being occupied by a hostile force.

 

I am terrified by what this invasion means for our world. Are these the first battles in what will become World War III? Is this the next phase in the decline of democracy and the rise of autocracy? How do we avoid nuclear war? I worry what is happening today will re-shape our world for generations.

 

Often, when there is something horrifying and terrifying in the news, I have ideas for meaningful ways I can respond–a letter to my senator, a sign I can hold as I stand on a street corner. Today, I struggle to figure out what I would write in my letter or on my sign. I believe we must always seek peaceful means to resolve conflicts, but I don’t know what that means in the face of this attack. I long for political leaders—from our nation and around the world—who have the skills and wisdom to bring us back from the brink of destruction, but I don’t know what skills and wisdom would make that possible.

 

As I acknowledge all that I do not know, I am brought back to the things I do know—the things I choose to believe. I choose to believe that our prayers matter—in mysterious ways I do not understand. I choose to trust that God is with all of us—Ukrainians, Russians, Europeans, Americans—sharing in our sense of horror, grieving and raging at senseless suffering, enabling courage to stand fast, calling forth the capacity to hope. I choose to claim the central message of our faith: God is love. God’s love is stronger than hatred and abuse of power, even when it seems that hate is winning. God’s love is at work in ways we cannot see or imagine. God’s love works through us.

 

May we pray for miracles of peace. May we awaken to God’s presence with us. May God’s love work through our words and our actions.

 

Peace, Debbie

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Pastor, Steeple

Primary Sidebar

Easter Season

Come Join Us!

Set your GPS for 39 Edwards Street, Framingham. We have plenty of parking!

We’d love to welcome you for worship Sundays at 10 am in our sanctuary (39 Edwards Street, Framingham) or on livestream. We’d also love to talk with you about weekday programs, our congregation, and your hopes (email Rev. Clark at pastor@edwardschurch.org or call 508-877-2050).

To sign up for events or to help out, click here.

Support Edwards Church

To donate to Edwards Church by Paypal, please use the link below. Please indicate in the notes field how you would like the donation directed:

Open and Affirming

Lenten Devotional

Upcoming Events

Please sign up, for our weekly email to get the latest events.

Open Spirit

Photo Galleries

Pentecost 2018
Pentecost 2018
Painting Improv 2018
Painting Improv 2018
Easter 2018
Easter 2018
Palm Sunday 2018
Palm Sunday 2018

Footer

About

  • Staff
  • Accessibility
  • FAQ
  • History

Boards

  • Ministry of Spiritual Life
  • Ministry of Outreach and Justice
  • Ministry of Administration
  • Ministry of Congregational Life

Committees

  • Our Teams

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in