CAPTION: Churches across Devon have held prayer vigils for peace in Ukraine
Devon Churches Hold Prayer Vigils and Collect Donations for Ukraine
Churches across Devon have held prayer vigils for peace in Ukraine, with many Christians in the county also choosing to mark Ash Wednesday as a day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine.
A prayer vigil was also held at Exeter Cathedral, where the columns were lit up in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
It was attended by the Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev’d Jackie Searle, who said “We lit candles and prayed, mostly in silence; heartfelt prayers were offered.
“We spoke the Lord’s prayer together, standing before ‘Our Father in Heaven’, pleading deliverance from evil and the coming of God’s kingdom.
Exeter Cathedral was lit-up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag during its prayer vigil
“In this Lent let us work for peace, praying for all who are suffering, for de-escalation of violence and an end to aggression, and an uprising of truth, justice and compassion.”
As well as prayer, some churches are also collecting donations for charities like the British Red Cross and Unicef.
Others are working with the Devon-based charity Christian Response to Eastern Europe (CR2EE), which is collecting items like blankets, toiletries and non-perishable food to transport to Moldova, which borders Ukraine and is Europe’s poorest country.
Charity Director, Hugh Scudder, said “There are now 40,000 Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, which is a country of less than four million.
“People there have nothing but they are still rushing out to help.
“They are also worried that after Ukraine, they will be next.
“We are so blessed over here, so please do help if you can.”
A church porch with collection boxes for the Devon charity Christian Relief 2 Eastern Europe
The charity will transport donated items to Moldova by road, with the next convoy leaving on 20 March.
The Bishop of Exeter, who is sitting in the House of Lords this week, said “Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine as they struggle for their survival and self-determination.
“Here in Devon our hearts are also with members of the armed forces, particularly those who are stationed in the Baltic republics: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
“We pray for their families back here in Devon, in their profound anxiety for them.
“Let’s pray that peace may prevail and that the leaders of the nations may be persuaded to come together to find peaceful ways of reconciling difference, where there is justice and respect for all.”
You can listen to a BBC Radio Devon interview with the Bishop of Crediton about Ukraine here (at 5.20pm) and one with the Bishop of Plymouth here (at 7.10am).
