Common Prayer for Belarus

PRESIDING BISHOP'S APPEAL – COMMON PRAYER FOR BELARUS

Various information about the situation in Belarus, which is our immediate, eastern neighbor, certainly reaches you. There is no shortage of comments that it is now experiencing "its own August", which is a reference to the events that took place many years ago in Poland.

I invite you to establish a common prayer network this Sunday, August 23rd 2020. May a prayer for peace and freedom for Belarus flow from each parish. Let us also remember every day in our personal prayers not only about our faithful Brothers and Sisters in this country, but also about the whole Belarusian society, which is peacefully fighting for change.

In recent days, our guide "Daily Words Losungen" features a quote by the German theologian Peter Strauch: "You have placed us in the midst of the disputes of this world to proclaim your peace, which only begins where a man like a child trusts your word". I think it fits the current situation perfectly. We have been placed not so much in the middle of anxiety, but right next to the fight for dignity, freedom and respect. We cannot give up on action, including prayerful initiative.

I asked the Evangelical Parish of the Augsburg Confession in Bialystok to prepare a prayer. It is the parish located closest to the border with Belarus, so it understands the situation there best. I received a text, which I add below, and which was prepared by a group of people from the Bialystok parish. I encourage you to use this prayer.

I also recommend reading an interview with pastor Vladimir Tatarnikov from the Evangelical-Lutheran Parish of St. John in Grodno, with whom our Church is in constant contact. The interview appeared on the evangelicy.pl portal and was published with a meaningful title: "We beat the bells, so that the militia would not beat people".

May the good God be a constant source of peace for us!

Thank you for your commitment and prayerful communication.

Bishop Jerzy Samiec

PRAYER FOR BELARUS

We come to You, Almighty Lord and God, who are the God of order and peace. We bring our eastern neighbors. Please stop the violence, bow to the wronged, give them strength to forgive those who have wronged them.

Stop hatred, and instead, pour mutual respect. Give wisdom, prudence and the gift of unity to all who will decide about the future of Belarus.

We entrust to you all those who are socially engaged and risk their lives or health. We ask you to comfort those who lost their loved ones during the protests, strengthen those who were physically and mentally broken.

Grant freedom, justice and peace to our neighbors and make us sensitive to human injustice and evil, so that we can respond properly according to our capabilities. We want to be the salt and light of this world! Amen.

I asked the Evangelical-Augsburg Parish in Bialystok to prepare a prayer text. It is the parish located closest to the border with Belarus, so it understands the situation there best. I received a text, which I add below, and which was prepared by a group of people from the Bialystok parish. I encourage you to use this prayer.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ!

Various information about the situation in Belarus, which is our immediate, eastern neighbor, certainly reaches you. There is no shortage of comments that it is now experiencing "its own August", which is a reference to the events that took place many years ago in Poland.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ!

Various information about the situation in Belarus, which is our immediate, eastern neighbor, certainly reaches you. There is no shortage of comments that it is now experiencing "its own August", which is a reference to the events that took place many years ago in Poland.