Let us pray:
“The world can be a terribly harsh place. Again and again in history, hatred and violence have conspired to destroy hard-won liberties, economic gains, and human hope. Again and again, innocents have been brutalized by conflicts not of their making and beyond their control. Again and again, nations have been consumed by jealousy and anger arising from base tribalism. In so doing, humankind has ignored the central claim made by every great religion: We who inhabit this planet share one common parent.
We all belong to God.
As Christians, our calling in the face of today’s violence (the calling Jesus put to the disciples) is to resist cynicism and apathy. Our calling will always be to take heart, to pray and to work toward the good.
Today, and in the days to come, I invite you to pray for Ukraine with me.
Eternal God, our only hope,
our help in times of trouble:
we pray for Ukraine and its peoples.
In the midst of this invasion,
as we witness again the horrible violence of war,
we ask you to rescue those who are vulnerable,
to shelter and comfort those who are afraid,
to fill soldiers with decency and honor,
to turn politicians toward diplomacy.
We ask that you pull the hearts and minds of all your children toward peace.
Help us not to despair in the face of this conflict.
Calm and strengthen our hearts.
Turn our eyes toward Jesus, who
entered every room saying: “Peace be with you.”
Help us to embrace our Lord’s sacred way,
so that power might always be used with compassion.
that your will might overrule human willfulness.
and that the song sung by angels might be true:
“Peace on earth. Good will to all.”
Holy God, we pray, this day, for Ukraine and its peoples,
and we pray for all humankind.
Save us from ourselves.
Guide our steps.
Lead us in your way. Amen.”
The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston
Senior Pastor, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
