PACIFIC Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) Moderator calls for Lenten Prayers for Ukraine
Right Rev. Hamish Galloway, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) has called for Lenten prayers for Ukraine, joining other NZ church leaders in a statement of solidarity calling for the aggression to end and the peaceful solutions to begin. “In a region that learnt the devastating lessons of war last century, the pattern has the tragic possibility of repeating. It flies in the face of much of the progress in peaceful coexistence that Europe has made in recent decades,” they said in the joint press statement, adding that the invasion of Ukraine also runs counter to the Jesus values of peace-making, which call for de-escalation, peace talks, humility and kindness. In closing, the PCANZ Moderator added a call to prayer for the Church, in support of the global call to prayer from Pope Francis for Christians worldwide to
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devote themselves to prayer and fasting for peace in this season.
PCANZ Moderator’s Easter Message: Passionately Hopeful With recent struggles of COVID weariness, a widening income inequality due to house prices spiralling out of control, and dismay at the brutal invasion of Ukraine, the PCANZ Moderator Right Rev. Hamish Galloway has encouraged all to see “signs of lights shining through the cracks of despair” in his Easter Message.
“This faith of ours - that the resurrection transforms the seeming despair of the cross into a world-changing victory of life over death, forgiveness over sin and good over evil - remains as powerful and relevant as ever!” he proclaimed.
EUROPE Churches across Britain and Ireland unite in prayer for Ukraine
Christian leaders gathered in prayer outside Ukraine embassy in London
After the Christchurch earthquakes, people looked for signs of meaning and hope, which sprung up in street art on the sides of buildings, and more people came to church on Sunday, recounted the PCANZ Moderator. Rt Rev. Galloway now points to the easing of COVID restrictions and peace talks in Ukraine as signs of hope, and asked Christians to “add a faithful voice drawing attention to the first cracks of dawning light at sunrise on the third day, which transformed the despair of the cross to something filled with hope.”
Hundreds of congregations from churches of various denominations across Britain and Ireland gathered in an act of witness to pray for the people of Ukraine and an end to the conflict in Ukraine on 3 April. Congregational Federation (CF) and United Reformed Church (URC) were among churches that had encouraged their congregations to pray and hold a visible act of witness – including the lighting of candles – in their communities.
UWI General Secretary Rev. Dyfrig Rees (left) at event
