“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” -John 14:27
This morning, I (Pastor Corey) awoke to several news alerts indicating war broke out in Europe as Russia began its official invasion of Ukraine, a free and independent democracy. If you’re like me, you’ve been keeping a watchful eye on the ongoing development of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The official invasion may not be a surprise, but still shocking and heartbreaking nonetheless.
I was reminded of a section of our United Methodist Church’s Social Principles as I read through the news articles. The Social Principles provide our most recent official summary of stated convictions. They are a resource for mission and ministry for United Methodists across the globe. The Social Principles call all United Methodists not only to make a difference in the world and to live differently in the world but also and as urgently to build a different kind of world than the one we have now. Here is an excerpt from a section on War and Peace:
“We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy. We oppose unilateral first/preemptive strike actions and strategies on the part of any government. As disciples of Christ, we are called to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers of conflict. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them. We advocate the extension and strengthening of international treaties and institutions that provide a framework within the rule of law for responding to aggression, terrorism, and genocide. We believe that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities; that the militarization of society must be challenged and stopped; that the manufacture, sale, and deployment of armaments must be reduced and controlled; and that the production, possession, or use of nuclear weapons be condemned. Consequently, we endorse general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.”
I grieve this morning having another vivid reminder that sin and brokenness continue to impact our world and lift up in prayer all those who harm is being done–both aggressors and victims. I share with you now the words from Bishop Christian Alsted in response to this crisis:
“Our central conference consists of Nordic, Baltic and Eurasian countries, including Russia and Ukraine. The Christian Church is not nationalistic and our relations with our brothers and sisters in other countries are not limited by nationality or culture. We have deep relations with Methodists in Ukraine and in Russia, and although we are influenced by our culture and the political realities, we must never allow this to hinder or break our unity in Christ.
We stand with the United Methodists in Ukraine in prayer for protection, reconciliation and peace. We pray for pastors, leaders and congregations in the United Methodist Church in Ukraine; may God grant that their witness of reconciliation and peace will bring strength and hope to the Ukrainian people.
We pray for Bishop Eduard Khegay, bishop of both Russia and Ukraine, may God give him the wisdom and grace that he needs in his ministry and leadership under these challenging circumstances.
In the Nordic and Baltic episcopal area, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all have borders with Russia, and in addition Latvia and Lithuania have borders with Belarus. In the Baltic states in particular, the invasion of Ukraine causes great concern.
The United Methodists in the Nordic countries stand with the Methodists in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in prayer for protection and peace. May the Church’s testimony of reconciliation and peace in Christ offer hope and strength to the people in the Baltic countries.
In the coming week we will enter the season of Lent, which in the church is a time for prayer and soul-searching. I call on all our congregations to intercede for the people of Ukraine, and for the leaders in the world, who have the power to bring an end to war. I call on all our congregations to pray and fast for reconciliation and peace in the world. May God, in his grace, open our eyes to the things that make for peace, may He protect us all from the escalation and spreading of war, and may we follow Him on His path of truth and peace.
May Christ have mercy on us all.”
Please join us in praying:
Let us pray,
O God, author and giver of peace,
in whose image and likeness each of us has been created with a human dignity worthy of respect on earth
and destined for eternal glory,
Listen to the cry that rises from every corner of this fragile earth,
from our human family torn by violent conflict, war, and natural disaster (Please take a moment to pray over each prompt):
Let us pray for our global community…
Let us pray for the Ukrainian people…
Let us pray for the Russian people…
Let us pray for those living in the midst of violence…
Let us pray for the brokenness of our lives and world…
Let us pray for the efforts of peace…
Let us pray for the call within ourselves by the One who
creates in us wellsprings of hope…
Give peace in our time, O good and gracious God,
that peace which, as your son Jesus Christ told us
and as we have experienced in these days,
is a peace which the world cannot give.
To world leaders grant the wisdom
to see beyond the boundaries of race, religion,
and nation to that common humanity that makes us
all your children and brothers and sisters to one another.
To those who have taken up arms in anger or
revenge or even in the cause of justice
grant the grace of conversion to the path of
peaceful dialogue and constructive collaboration.
To the innocent who live in the shadow of war and terror,
especially the frightened children,
be a shelter and strength, their haven and hope.
And to those who have already lost their lives
as victims of human cruelty and chemical warfare,
open wide your arms and enfold them all
in the embrace of your compassion, healing, and everlasting life.
May the waters that covered us at our birth once again
remind us of our creation in you. Remind us that we are vessels
of the waters of hope and that your outpourings have
power to heal and make whole our bruised world.
Let the living waters of creation, womb, baptism, and
Spirit encircle us that we may remember we are yours and be thankful.
We are a people who journey as vessels containing
wellsprings of hope; sharing, replacing, and adding
new waters of proclamation, power, prophecy, and prayer
to the containers of our life and faith.
Remove from our minds hatred, prejudice, and
contempt for those who are not of our own race or color,
class or creed, that, departing from everything that
estranges and divides, we may by you be brought into
unity of spirit, in the bond of peace.
Grant this through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord.
Amen.