24 February 2022
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has written to church leaders in Chelmsford Diocese following Russia's attack on Ukraine last night.
Bishop Guli's message reads as follows:
Dear friends
I’m sure like me you are appalled to have woken up this morning to the news of events in Ukraine overnight.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued a statement condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine as “an act of great evil” and urging Christians to make this Sunday a special day of prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace. They are also supporting a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday.
You can read their statement here
As we watch events unfold over the coming days, I invite you to join me in using The Prayer for Peace in the World that the Church of England published earlier this week:
Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace;
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth;
that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
On Tuesday, at 6pm, the Diocese in Europe will be holding special prayers for Ukraine. As our clergy and licensed lay ministers gather at Chelmsford Cathedral at 6.30pm on Tuesday we will also join them in prayer, as we will at the daytime gathering on that day and at our Diocesan Synod on Saturday.
These are deeply worrying times for Europe and the rest of the world and as we pray, we particularly remember those who will be directly affected by this crisis, for their heartbreak and sorrow.
In his Thought for the Day broadcast on Radio 4 this morning Archbishop Justin called on us to remember the words of Jesus on the eve of his crucifixion: ‘In the world you will have trouble but do not be afraid, I have overcome the world’. Archbishop Justin went on to reflect that the only certainty, is that we know that God does not change and that we must find our resolution, our peace and certainty in the knowledge of the eternal arms that hold us.
Yours in Christ
Pastoral letter from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have also issued a Pastoral Letter about the crisis in the Ukraine which includes a link to liturgical resources for parishes. You can read their letter here.
