Ukraine Crisis
Help for UkraineThere is a great desire to be able to be of help in the crisis in Ukraine. The recommendation from Rochester Diocese is to donate to the long established church charity called USPG which can be found here https://ukraine-emergency-appeal.raisely.com/ Other charities are available. Let us continue to pray for peace, a swift end to hostilities and care for those suffering. Words from the Bishop of TonbridgeA letter from Bishop Simon can be found here
Resources from St. John's BromleyOur Neighbour Revd. Andrew McClellan in in touch with people from Ukraine and has sent this very helpful information. Dear church leaders in Central Bromley I know that many of you and your church members are already actively seeking ways to get involved in responding to the crisis in Ukraine. Earlier this week I was approached by a Bromley man living in my parish with his Ukrainian wife. He was urgently seeking temporary accommodation for members of his wife's family who were in transit from Kyiv to the UK. I appealed to members of my church and other Bromley churches to respond with offers of help. Many thanks indeed to those of you who forwarded my appeal. I was hugely encouraged by the number of positive responses I received. The Ukrainian family in question now have a firm offer of accommodation, and I am aware of a number of other Bromley Christians who are ready to house Ukrainians in their spare rooms. In the face of such a crisis, it can be hard to know how best to help, and many church members may be turning to us for guidance on what to do. This morning I am writing to all members of my church with some ideas and suggestions for how to help practically as well as through out prayers. I recognise that church leaders are extremely busy people so I offer you some words which you can simply forward to your church members if you feel this would be appropriate. Earlier this week the Church of England published a toolkit of resources for churches seeking to help refugees and evacuees from Ukraine. The toolkit (which can be downloaded in full here) includes suggestions on how to provide immediate practical help, such as:
Finally we are encouraged to pray for the peace of the world and for Ukraine in particular. You might like to use these prayers as a starting point: For the peace of the world Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
Other prayer resources can be found on this page of the Church of England website. In Christ Andrew
Revd Andrew McClellan |