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Intro & Prayer, Sam:

Welcome to St Martin-in-the-Fields. I鈥檓 the Revd Dr Sam Wells (the Vicar here).听 听No one is an island: everyone is a part of the whole. The war in Europe has struck fear and dismay into so many hearts. We are an interconnected people. My own grandparents were born and raised in Kiev. We search for appropriate ways to respond as we place our destiny in God鈥檚 hands.

Lead Kindly Light verse 2

Joining our service this morning we are honoured to welcome Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski representing not only the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family here in London but also the Ukrainian Orthodox community. Also joining us are a number of Ukrainian Catholic seminarians. Bishop Kenneth now leads us in prayer

Bishop Kenneth reads a prayer

Lead Kindly Light verse 3

Lament, Sam

Anthem: John Chrysostom in English

Sam:

Andriy Marchenko, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ukraine now joins us to read from Psalm 27. But first he gives us his thoughts on the tragic situation now engulfing his country.

Remarks, Andriy Marchenko:

Dear Friends of Ukraine,

I am blessed to be among so many people of faith, for faith is what brings me here to you today, faith in a God who loves the land and people of Ukraine; and my faith in a strong, determined, resilient, freedom-loving people.听

I wish that we could gather in different circumstances. Unfortunately, what brings us together is the shock and outrage we all are experiencing, as we see a war of aggression and occupation unfold in the heart of Europe.

The Russian Federation has initiated an unprovoked attack against its southern neighbour. We鈥檝e seen rocket attacks against schools, we鈥檝e seen tanks purposely crushing vehicles and their occupants. I ask you to stay informed, and to continue to follow news from Ukraine, no matter how surreal and distant it might seem.

I appeal to you, please "Stand with Ukraine!" Give it all the support you can, for the battle being fought on its territory is a battle of right versus might, of good versus evil.

As people of faith you all understand that human morality is not a matter of personal opinion. It needs a reference point, a source, a foundation, and for people of faith the reference point is the realisation that there is a God above us, who sees us and to whom we are accountable.

I thank you for your prayers, for your support, for your friendship. God bless all of you. God bless the land and people of Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

OT Lesson from Psalm 27

Hymn: O God of all salvation 鈥� Ally Barrett (King鈥檚 Lynn)

Sam:

Also worshipping with us this morning is Myroslava Matwijiwskyj (Matviuski), of the Ukrainian Information Service. Myroslava will share her own thoughts before I read the Gospel

Remarks, Myroslava Matwijiwskyj:

Russia鈥檚 invasion is something I prayed would be avoided. Even as forces encircled Ukraine, I hoped against hope a resolution would be reached. Instead, peace has been shattered and untold pain has been unleashed.

Ukraine is under attack and my heart aches with sorrow for my ancestral homeland. Especially for the millions of innocent men, women and children caught in the middle of this war. Traumatised and living in fear.

This unprovoked aggression is causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Civilians are sheltering underground. Families have been torn apart. Children uprooted. People fleeing seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.听

Many brave young men and women have given their lives for freedom and for God-given dignity.

All of this is overwhelming to process.

We are filled with despair.

But when I pause to reflect, I realise that even thousands of miles away, we can find ways to help. That there is hope.

We can support those suffering. We can also pray for Ukraine and for her strength to resist this unprovoked aggression because we must trust in God鈥檚 protection and in the strength of the Ukrainian people.

NT Lesson, Sam:

A reading from the Gospel of John chapter 12, beginning at verse 23. Jesus said, 鈥楾he hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.

Anthem: Liturgy of John Chrysostom

Sam:

Part of the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom sung by Seminarians from the Ukrainian Catholic church. Our preacher is the bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski.

Sermon, Sam and Kenneth:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

As the global community continues to watch the war in Ukraine unfold on their television screens and smartphones, the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church along with other Churches and Religious Communities continue to do what they have always sought to do鈥攇uide and support their flock in the light of faith.

We know from the history of salvation that there were many moments when the People of God were threatened, under attack, under siege. Ukrainian history is full of such moments as well. And it is at these moments that the Psalmist directs our hearts to the Almighty God, our Heavenly Father.听

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Even as the Ukrainian community throughout the world mobilizes to lend support to Ukraine any way it can鈥攕piritual, moral, financial, informational鈥攚e note with pride the confidence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, engaged in battle against a much stronger and better-equipped foe, a David and Goiliath story that inspires us to also have faith:听 The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

It is a story of sacrifice in the spirit of the Gospel reading we just heard from St. John: I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. We are saddened with each dying grain, each loss of life, of men and women in uniform, of innocent victims from among the civilian population.听听

As Christians we call on the听 presence of the Holy Spirit to instill in us the inner peace of confessors and martyrs in the face of sacrifice. As my good friend, the Orthodox bishop Ihor (Isichenko) of Kharkiv wrote: 鈥淲e must always remain Christians鈥攃alm, thoughtful, responsible, sensitive to the needs of others, capable of analyzing information and of clearly discerning one鈥檚 place and one鈥檚 calling in the endless struggle between good and evil.鈥澨�

We do not understand the way of the Lord, but we trust in the promise that Jesus has left us, a road that is not paved with roses, but involves hardship and challenges. He told us that听 鈥淲hoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.鈥� Our Lord did not run from His Calvary. And I am proud to say that our bishops, clergy and religious remain at the service of God鈥檚 people, placing their trust in Our Saviour, inspiring others to seek guidance in the light of their faith.

We continue to pray for peace, but we must also pray for victory鈥搉ot only a military victory, but especially a spiritual victory. Ironically, Russia will only be saved if President Putin is defeated. We pray for our enemies, that they be enlightened by the truth of the Gospel, that their eyes are opened to the horror they have inflicted and continue to inflict.

Today, we are uniting our prayers to those of Ukraine鈥檚 friends across the globe. We do not understand why the God of history has let this happen to us, but we offer up our pain as a spiritual sacrifice for the greater glory of God. May his name be forever praised: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Anthem: Da Pacem (Arvo Part)听听听听听听听听听听听

Prayers

Sam:

听In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the Lord鈥檚 Prayer is spoken in Ukrainian.

Lord鈥檚 Prayer (Leontovich - sung in English)

Hymn

Organ Voluntary

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