Friday 24 February marks one year since the invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has caused enormous suffering, while its ripple effects have been felt around the world. Thousands upon thousands of lives have been lost. Homes, schools and hospitals have been destroyed. And more than eight million Ukrainians have become refugees.
We will not stop praying for Ukraine and the whole region until there is peace.
Use this liturgy – a combination of Bible verses and written prayers – to join us in crying out to God for peace. You may want to gather together friends, family or your church to pray with you. If you would like a printer-friendly version of these prayers, you can download one here.
Bible reading: calling out to God
‘Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy…
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
(Psalm 130:1–2, 5–6)
A prayer of lament
God, why did you allow this to happen?
God, why do you allow it to continue?
There are so many widows, so many orphans,
so many parents with an empty space in their souls.
Out of the depths we cry to you, God.
Do not let the anguish of the innocent go unheard.
We pray for miracles of peace.
We pray for swift and overwhelming miracles of peace.
Amen.
Bible reading: the God of deliverance
‘Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.’
(Psalm 10:12)
‘For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help…
He will rescue them from oppression and violence’
(Psalm 72:12,14)
A prayer for love and mercy
In bombed out homes –
God, let love and mercy reign.
In overstretched hospitals –
God, let love and mercy reign.
In cold and muddy trenches –
God, let love and mercy reign.
In the offices of the powerful –
God, let love and mercy reign.
Amen.
Bible reading: promises of peace
‘They will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war any more.’
(Isaiah 2:4)
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.’
(Revelation 21:4)
A prayer for peace and justice to flourish
God of power and love and light,
Let the weapons fall silent
and the machines of war be dismantled.
Let the wounded be healed
and the mourners find comfort and hope.
Let the refugees return home
and communities rise up from the ruins.
Let peace and justice flourish in Ukraine
and everywhere that there is conflict.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thank you for praying with us. For more ways to pray for Ukraine, see our ‘How to pray for Ukraine’ guide.
