Unitarians Together for Ukraine

Arka Digital | Posted on March 18, 2022 |

Unitarians Together for Ukraine

Dear All,

We are all trying find ways to respond to the awful events unfolding in Ukraine and the upsurge of compassion and determination in our congregations has been inspiring. It feels important at this time that we are united by our principles and can stand firm together in our liberal and loving faith.

Therefore, I write to invite you to pause and sit for a moment of silence, on Friday 18th March, 8pm and to light a candle or chalice for peace.

You may to choose to do this alone or with your congregation but however you do it, I hope that this will be a chance for the whole movement to stop and sit together, a national moment of contemplation, love, and fellowship.

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Liz Slade, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, writes:

It is new for all of us to experience a land war in Europe in an age of rolling news and social media coverage and witnessing these horrific events can be intense and disturbing. I am grateful to all those who have been moved into action, in whatever way is possible and meaningful for them – for some that is by making donations to support those fleeing or defending their homes, for others it is coordinating support from your community, and others have been pushing their politicians to take action. It is also a time for wise non-action – creating space to breathe and reflect, for ourselves and others. At a time of heightened anxieties, this space can be essential so that we don’t add our own small conflicts to the world. Do join us in this time of pause on Friday 18th at 8pm.

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Sue Woolley, Secretary of the Unitarian Peace Fellowship, writes:

As Secretary of the Unitarian Peace Fellowship, I have pleasure in endorsing the idea of Unitarians “standing firm together in our liberal and loving faith” by spending some time alone and/or together holding the people of Ukraine in our hearts and lighting a chalice or candle for peace.

We may not, as individuals, be able to do much about the situation in Ukraine (although we can of course write to our MPs to ask that Ukrainian refugees will be made welcome here, make donations, take part in vigils, and pray for peace, to give just four examples). But, I do believe that we can all make a difference to the world in which we live, by showing love and compassion to the next person we meet.

Because the power of unconditional love is enormous. If each one of us genuinely tried to love our neighbour, which means each person we meet, and to treat each one with the utmost equity and respect, to see each and every one of them as “unique, precious, a child of God”, I believe our part of the world could be a happier, more peaceful place. And who knows where the ripples might end.

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Mark Hutchinson will be participating in this event via ‘Facebook Live’. If you use Facebook, you can follow the link here to watch him on Friday 18th at 8pm:

https://fb.me/e/4cHxkrvG9

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It is my pleasure to let you know that the GA’s Executive Committee have agreed that the donations from the Anniversary collection, taken at the Annual Meetings, will be given to the Red Cross Ukrainian Crisis Appeal.

You can find a statement of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, issued by the General Assembly on the 2nd of March 2022 and a message from our President, Anne Mills here:

https://www.unitarian.org.uk/2022/03/02/solidarity-with-ukraine/

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Alongside sharing my invitation to this national moment of togetherness, I also attach some other resources, gathered from across the movement, to support you and your congregations.

A selection of prayers written by UK Unitarians in response to the crisis
An invitation to donate to the British Red Cross Ukrainian Crisis Appeal from Feargus O’Connor of the Unitarian Peace Fellowship
A Song for Ukraine, shared by Margaret Robinson who writes “this is by Mykola Lysenko, a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist. Born 1842, died 1912. The English translation is by Anna Lapwood, who also gives the Ukrainian words phonetically. There is no copyright on this piece, and she asks for it to be freely shared, so that as many people as possible can sing it”
An audio recording of the backing music for A Song for Ukraine, kindly shared by Peter Flower, along with audio of the Ukrainian national anthem.

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If you wish to make financial donations as an individual or a congregation to support people in Ukraine, you may find the following links useful:

The Red Cross https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

The Unitarian Christian Association invite you to donate to Christian Aid here:

https://www.unitarianchristian.org.uk/

The Hungarian Unitarian Church are receiving donations for their work supporting Ukrainian refugees:

https://www.uua.org/files/2022-03/Call%20for%20Aid%20HUC.pdf

How can charities support Ukraine?

https://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2022/03/02/charities-civil-society-ukraine/

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If you wish to contact your MP, this link will help:

https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/