WCC NEWS: WCC gathers to pray for peace, faith, and hope in difficult times

Gathering to pray for the churches and people of France, Germany, and Monaco as part of the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, World Council of Churches (WCC) staff and partners lamented the many conflicts around the world.  Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth 24 February 2023 WCC moderator Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, from Germany, led the prayers. Bedford-Strohm prayed: “Gracious God, on this day we bring before you our lament. Our lament in the face of terrible suffering under violence, injustice and war in so many places on this earth. Our lament about the invasion of the Ukraine that happened today a year ago.” He lamented the many thousands who have been killed in the war since then. “About the brutal attacks on civilians, which terrorize the Ukrainian people. About the war crimes against innocent people, which violate all minimal standards of humanness. About the misuse of religious language in justifying the invasion.” Bedford-Strohm also prayed about the despair of all those who have lost their loved ones on both sides. “Our own feelings of powerlessness in trying to find ways to overcome this terrible violence. Send beams of hope into our hearts and into the hearts of all those who have lost every hope.” He added: “God, we ask you to send your spirit into the hearts of those in power. So that those who are responsible for this war may recognize the injustice of their action and repent.” Finally, he prayed that those fighting against each other may find ways for a just peace. “That the logic of military violence may give way to the logic of dialogue and peace. You are the creator of heaven and earth. You sustain us every day. Show us your presence. Give us your comfort. Strengthen our faith and our love and our hope in this difficult time.” Link to the order of service See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland