As Ukraine suffers military invasion Bath Quakers are invited to join Friends in Kiev for online Meeting for Worship Sunday 0830 GMT. Friends in Kyiv write:

In the past week, we have received dozens of examples of a desperate desire to help Ukraine, prayers for peace, words of encouragement, and assurances of the steadfastness of the basic testimonies that are close to 400 years old, namely, testimonies of peace. God is good to us, and Quakers are a living organization of good people who believe in peace and in God’s light. Our online worship meeting in Zoom will take place on Sunday at 10:30 am [0830GMT].

Bath Quakers can contact Judith Eversely (or email us here) for log on details.

Meanwhile British Quakers issued the following statement about the new war:

Quakers in Britain strongly condemn the attack on Ukraine. It is a grave development for humanity, and a violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. Our belief in the preciousness of all human life leads us to oppose all war”, said Paul Parker, Recording Clerk of Quakers in Britain.

Quakers have always held peacebuilding as a core principle for life.

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 – Quaker declaration 1660

This sentiment applies as much today, in a world of nuclear weapons, as it did then.