Prayer for peace event is well attended
Hundreds of people gathered together in Ayr to pray for peace in Ukraine.
Almost 300 members and supporters of the churches of Ayr and surrounding areas banded together at Ayr’s Wellington Square for an ecumenical prayer for peace in Ukraine and across the world.
Prayers, readings and hymns reminded the crowd to think of those fleeing their homes in the Eastern European country and to continue to pray for their safety.
Blue and yellow candles were also lit as a gesture of solidarity last Saturday.
Amongst those in attendance were The Church of Scotland congregations of Castlehill, St Leonard, St Andrews, the Auld Kirk, Newton Wallacetown,
St Quivox and St James.
The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Riverside Evangelical Church, Ayr Baptist Church, St Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church and the local Salvation Army also supported the event.
And passers-by who wanted to show
their support also joined the crowd.
Reverend Dr Barbara Suchanek-Seitz, one of the organisers, said in her welcoming address:“It is important to signal our solidarity with Ukraine and with the people suffering unimaginable pain in the country, as well as the thousands of refugees who face an uncertain future and worry about loved ones.”
Reverend Ian Gall of Riverside Church said it was good for the town to see churches uniting together in support for Ukrainian people.
Reverend David Gemmel, minister at the Auld Kirk, said:“Churches coming together is only the start. We need to get all faiths, all political parties and all sections of our society standing side by side, united.”
Reverend Martyn Trembath, Rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, added: “It was important to come together as Christians to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.”
The event will be repeated every month until the war in Ukraine has ended.