Prayers for peace

This week's 12.30pm Holy Communion services will be offered with a special intention for the people of Ukraine; for those who are frightened, fighting, or fleeing as refugees.

Candles can be lit in the Abbey or in St Margaret’s Church, where some suggestions for prayer will be posted.

See service times and details for Sunday 27th February – Saturday 5th March.

"Day of prayer and fasting for peace"

The Abbey, alongside the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, echoes Pope Francis’s call to make Ash Wednesday (2nd March) a day of prayer and fasting for peace. The Pope said:

“I would like to appeal to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus taught us that the diabolical evil of violence is answered with the weapons of God, with prayer and fasting.”

Prayer

Holy God,
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all her people suffering or afraid,
for those who have fled and those who remain,
that you will be close to them and protect them.
We mourn every casualty of this conflict,
and every precious life extinguished by war.
We pray comfort for those who grieve.
We pray for the leaders of Ukraine, of Russia and all our nations,
for urgent compassion and wisdom to guide their choices;
we long that those who have begun this war may have a change of heart
We pray for ourselves and the whole world
that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to one another.
May we walk in your ways
so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine
and for all people.
Amen.