It is with huge sadness we watch the situation of war escalating in Ukraine. Wars lead to unimaginable suffering and lifelong damaging effects, particularly for women and children.
As people of different faiths and also those of no particular faith, working together in Luton, we are convinced that the world cannot develop and find answers for the challenges of today by resorting to might and violence, by showing disdain for shared human values.
We denounce any and every use of deadly armed force to resolve disputes that could be resolved by dialogue. Concerned with protecting the sanctity of human life, we call for an immediate end to the current armed hostilities.
We urge all faith communities and all people of goodwill in Luton to pray for peace for the people of Ukraine and the region.
Although war makes dialogue and peacemaking far more difficult, we know there are people in both Russia and Ukraine working tirelessly for peace. We continue to uphold and stand in solidarity with them at this violent and perilous time.
Together, we must strengthen our resolve to continue working together for peace and unity in our world, globally as well as locally.
We pray for the peace in the region.
We pray for the bloodshed and violence to quickly end.
We pray for wise leaders, and peacemakers on every side.
We pray that comfort and compassion may conquer fear and violence.
We pray that although efforts to prevent war have failed, but efforts to end it must succeed.
May we all rise up to find ways of defending the vulnerable, as we always have.
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Many other organisations have also shared their concerns and prayers for Ukraine as following;
WCC https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-calls-for-an-immediate-end-to-the-current-armed-hostilities
Pope Francis https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-02/war-in-ukraine-pope-francis-goes-to-russian-embassy.html
Church of England https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/attack-ukraine-act-great-evil-statement-archbishops-canterbury-and
CAFOD https://cafod.org.uk/News/International-news/Ukraine-crisis
Quakers https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/quakers-condemn-attack-on-ukraine
