The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead

Church chat

Giving support to Ukraine 

9/3/2022

Many have felt deeply the reporting from Clive Myrie in Ukraine.
Clive was deeply moved by the people he has met, and their fortitude.
Among a group of students one told him:
“I am prepared to die for my country, for what I love,
Putin doesn’t understand we don’t want his authority – his world.
All of us here know what we want – the right to live our own lives,
the right to choose who leads us. That’s our right, not Moscow’s.”

And they fight, will fight for their freedom.  They are fighting for our freedom too.
the greatest of integrity, their courageous President, Voldomyr Zelensky,
told a packed House of Commons Chamber, they have neither lost their humanity in war,
they have not abused captive Russian soldiers.

We are heartbroken as we helplessly watch the News.
But there are things we can do. 
Pray ceaselessly.  For those who fight, those who have returned to fight.
For the old, women and children, cold, starving and thirsty,
their lives utterly destroyed, desperately seeking safety.
For their astonishing courageous President,
who will live or die with his people in Kyiv.
For the defeat and removal of President Putin who has ordered this slaughter.

Let us talk with one another. This war and its causes must never be forgotten.
For we too are, in so many ways we quietly don’t see,
we too are threatened with autocratic dictatorship, the loss of our liberal demoncracy.

Freedom is costing Ukranians their lives.  It will cost us in our pockets. 
The price of our power, the price of food, will go up.  So be it.
We can also give financially to support the aid effort enabling civilians to escape.
Ultimately to rebuild the beautiful historic cities of Ukraine.

I’m sure many of us have already given to support Ukraine. 
Their need will be on-going, anything we can continue to contribute
will be so much appreciated.  It tells the Ukranian people they are never forgotten.

If you google Christian Aid Donate to Ukraine, links to donate will come up.

The Red Cross and Christian Aid (as also other charities)
are passing donations to the DEC, the Disasters Emergency Committee,
who are co-ordinating British Aid. 
PLEASE BEWARE SCAMS – pop-up charities are not safe.

You may also like to give directly to a Ukrainian family by booking an Airbnb!
Of course, you will not be going – just an easy way of giving directly to the people of Ukraine.

Airbnb have temporarily waived guest and host fees on bookings in Ukraine.
Link: https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/donate-to-ukraine-via-airbnb

Lest we forget.  Lest we forget.   Thank you.