Vigil for peace
From Rev Carolyn Kelly: Wednesday 2 March 2022, University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
"A warm welcome to the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, whether you are joining us in person or online. Peace be with you.
You are welcome to this place and time, whatever your beliefs: to share in sorrow at what has happened and is happening; to share in solidarity with those who face violence and are now suffering; to share in the claim, the hope, and our prayer, for peace.
Some of you will be aware that today is Ash Wednesday. For Christians this day marks the season of Lent heading towards Easter. We join with many throughout the world in response to Pope Francis’ call for prayer and fasting for Ukraine.
[There are some prompts for reflection and prayer at the entrance, including the Lord’s prayer in Ukrainian]
Yesterday was St David’s day, the patron saint of Wales who was a close friend and associate of our St Mungo. St David’s symbol was the white dove, for it was said that it alighted on his shoulder in times of violence and when he faced threats. The white bird, or a dove, is also a symbol in various religious traditions and in the peace movement. In the Hebrew scriptures it appears in the story of Noah to signal the end of the flood and chaos in the world.
With that gentle, but stirring image in mind, let us now name places and people in this crisis; those who are being invaded, as well as those doing the invading.
We ask that the dove of peace may alight on their shoulders.
We hold in thought and prayer all who are directly bearing the brunt of the invasion in the cities and towns: Odessa, Vasylkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Uman, Kherson and others; all who are wounded and are in distress; those who have lost their homes, or sheltering in bunkers, basements, garages; those on the run; separated families who cannot make contact.
May the dove of peace alight on their shoulders.
We remember and grieve for those whose lives have been lost, and their suffering loved ones.
We hold in our hearts all who face death this day, this night.
May the dove of peace alight on their shoulders.
We think too, of all engaged in the fighting. Those who are fighting to defend Ukraine: young and old men, many who have not borne arms before; those who are not sure what to do, who are terrified.
And we think of Russian soldiers, those who drop bombs, tank and truck drivers, all those who obey orders to inflict damage and commit atrocities.
May the dove of peace alight on their shoulders.
We pause to reflect on and pray for those in positions of leadership: President Zelensky and other leaders of Ukraine, governing in the very midst of the bombardment. The leaders of neighbouring states; of our own democracies, deciding on their responses and collective action even now.
And even, especially, we pray for the leaders of Russia. May wisdom, truthfulness, and justice prevail.
May the dove of peace alight on their shoulders.
We now express solidarity with those closer to us: students and staff at our university and our local communities with connections to Ukraine, who are suffering.
We acknowledge those with ties to Russia, Belarus and other Eastern European countries, in our midst.
May the dove of peace alight on their shoulders.
I’d like to close now with the prayer of St Francis of Assisi. Bishop Desmond Tutu of Cape Town, South Africa who died recently (and was himself a Nobel Peace Prize winner), said he often returned to this prayer: ‘Make me an instrument of your peace.’
Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
