PRAYERS AND AID FOR UKRAINE

CHURCH of Scotland congregations donated over £100,000 in less than two weeks to help a partner church’s work amongst refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Church announced on March 2 that it would accept donations to be forwarded to Reformed Church in Hungary Aid (RCHA), which is working with the Reformed Church in Ukraine and in border areas of neighbouring countries.

On March 15 the Rev Ian Alexander, Global Justice lead with the Church of Scotland’s Faith Action Team, said: “The opportunity to support the Reformed Church in Hungary Aid has been very positive. I understand there is about £110,000 which has come in from congregations. This is tremendously encouraging and gives not just money, but the knowledge that churches far away are both praying and offering tangible support for those fleeing and those able to help on the border.

“This will allow RCHA to keep supporting work with the churches in Transcarpathian Ukraine, and those welcoming refugees in the border areas of Slovakia, Hungary and Romania which all border Ukraine and have small Reformed Churches which can help with practicalities.”

The Reformed Church in Hungary has an English-language website giving updates on its work at https://reformatus.hu/ english/news/

Donations to the RCHA can be made into the following account: Royal Bank of Scotland Church of Scotland No 1 Account Account no: 00134859 Sort code: 83 06 08 Reference: RCHA donation Meanwhile, congregations and organisations throughout the country continue to pray for peace, while many are collecting either money or goods to help refugees.

In Ayr, between 200 and 300 leaders, members and adherents of the churches of Ayr and surrounding areas gathered in Wellington Square on Saturday March 12 for an ecumenical Prayer for Peace. Six Church of Scotland congregations as well as the local Episcopal, Evangelical, Baptist, Roman Catholic churches and the Salvation Army were all represented at the event, which will be repeated every month until the war in Ukraine has ended.

The Rev Dr Barbara Suchanek-Seitz of Ayr: St James Parish Church said: “It is important to signal our solidarity with Ukraine and with the people suffering unimaginable pain in the country, but also with the thousands of refugees who face an uncertain future and worry about loved ones.”

A collection at St Michael’s Church, Linlithgow gathered in over 300 nappies, 70 sleeping bags, 12 crates of toiletries and 200 bags of clothes, among other items. Pioneer worker Lorraine Orr said the response to the appeal had been ‘overwhelming… the kindness and generosity shown by so many people is phenomenal’.

The 6th Clydebank Guides, based at Clydebank: Kilbowie St Andrew’s Church, made beautiful bright yellow and blue Sunflower Bird Boxes for the girls to take home and have in their gardens, and raised £150 for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts’ emergency appeal for Ukraine.

*As of April 5, the total collected by the Church of Scotland for the Reformed Church in Hungary appeal stood at £193,767.