New York Yearly Meeting response to Russian invasion of Ukraine
Friends Respond to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Friends in New York Yearly Meeting and around the world condemn the violence in Ukraine. Today, NYYM Clerk Elaine Learnard and General Secretary Steve Mohlke emailed letters of love and solidarity to Friends in Ukraine and in Russia on behalf of NYYM Friends. The letters are copied below.
If you’d like to send a personal message to the Quakers of Kyiv, Ukraine, or read updates from them, you can visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/QuakersKyivUkraine.
Statements made by NYYM-affiliated groups
- AFSC: The invasion of Ukraine must be stopped — but U.S. military aid is not the answer
- Take Action with FCNL: Condemn the Russian Invasion and Press for Diplomacy
- FCNL’s Statement on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
- World Council of Churches Appeals for Peace for the People of Ukraine
Online worship opportunities
Daily Online Meeting for Worship for Ukraine
A global, virtual Meeting for Worship to hold in the Light the situation in Ukraine, the decision makers, the soldiers, the citizens — all the people whose lives are in danger and already disrupted by fear — has been been organized by Friends House Moscow supporters in the USA. It is running every day for one hour at different times depending on your time zone (see below). The original Zoom link for our “Ukraine” daily Meeting for Worship has changed in order to permit a larger number of worshippers. The NEW (as of Feb. 27, 2022) connection details are given below. If you wish, please participate as and when you are able.
The (REVISED) Zoom link for the Meeting for Worship:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4165005614?pwd=NUtieEtqbDBYbjBrcGdMMzBKQ3drQT09
Meeting ID: 416 500 5614
Passcode: 182805
and the full schedule of the start time in different countries:
07:00am Honolulu; 09:00am Pacific; 12:00pm Eastern US; 05:00pm London; 06:00pm Paris; 07:00pm Kyiv; 08:00pm Moscow
Letters sent from NYYM to Friends in Ukraine and in Russia
To Our Dear Friends in Ukraine:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5
What a blessing it is that modern communication makes it possible for us to tell you: our hearts are with you, though we are far away. We have been watching and reading as Russian forces have entered your country. One’s home is a deeply precious thing, with all the memories it holds: worship and play, family and friends, hard work and day-to-day joys and sorrows. We are grieved that yours is threatened now.
There is one advantage to the distance between New York and Ukraine: when the sun goes down on your land, it is high in ours. If you should find your sleep disturbed in the night, you can know that Friends in New York Yearly Meeting are holding you in prayer. May God’s comforting arms surround you.
In the Love of the Eternal,
The Friends of New York Yearly Meeting
To Our Dear Friends in Russia:
The letter shared by Friends House Moscow on February 24th brings to mind the words below.
“All bloody principles and practices, we … do utterly deny, with all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world.” – Declaration from Friends to Charles II, 1660
There is a unique pain when violence is done in one’s name without one’s permission.
We know that your prayers, like ours, are prayers for peace and prayers for protection for every person in Ukraine. In recent days, there has been—rightly—much attention paid to the people of Ukraine, but our hearts are moved to make sure you know that our thoughts are also with you and your children. May you be blessed with courage and discernment, and may you feel the presence and protection of the Divine surround you.
In Friendship,
The Friends of New York Yearly Meeting
Messages from Friends in Ukraine and Russia
We received the following replies via email.
Reply #1:
Dear Friends from New York Yearly Meeting Friends! Thank you for the kind words of encouragement and comfort, it is so important and life-affirming for us! Thank you for following the development of the situation in Ukraine and for your friendly prayers, for your support!
E-mail: quakers@ukr.net
Website: https://fb.com/QuakersKyivUkraine
Messenger: m.me/QuakersKyivUkraine
Reply #2:
Thanks!
We keep in the light of events in Ukraine and Russia.
We strive and look for opportunities to support people in Ukraine and Russia as much as possible. Unfortunately, every day we have new laws that restrict the rights and freedoms of people.
Sasha
Moscow Monthly Meeting
Excepted from the March 4, 2022 NYYM Weekly Update. To subscribe, email request to info@nyym.org.