Rev Dr Michael Paterson ended his sermon at our Ash Wednesday eucharist with these words:

Remember that you are dust
and to dust you shall return.

Today more than ever
we know that we are dust
and need no reminder.

Today more than ever
we know our helplessness
and need no reminder.

And today, more than ever,
as even hospitals are bombed
and innocent lives taken
we need no reminder
that to dust we shall all return.

And yet tonight,
we who live in freedom,
who have food for tomorrow
and homes to return to tonight
voluntarily surrender to the rhythms of Lent
prayer
fasting
and almsgiving.

Prayer instead of Propaganda.
Fasting instead of Feasting.
Alms instead of Arms.

Tonight,
we who know we are dust
come forward to be marked by ashes left
after the burning
after the bombing
after the destruction.

May God meet us
in the ashes
with grace and with glory.
And may we meet God
in our prayer,
in our fasting
and in our almsgiving for Ukraine this Lent.
Amen.

You can read the whole of the sermon at this link.

Our friend Ann Ostapko and her husband are working hard for the appeal being organised by the Edinburgh Community of Ukrainians in the UK. You can support them via the Community’s Facebook page. Should you prefer to make a direct bank transfer, the details are at the end of the sermon at this link.