The Emory Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia sought prayers amid the heightened invasion of Russia in Ukraine.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Feb. 26, the Emory Presbyterian Church said when experiencing such heartaches must turn to God in prayers.
The last two years have been brutally difficult in so many ways, as the public is well aware. At present, on this lovely sunny February day, we find ourselves seeing the horrors of war, according to the church.
The heart hurts for the people of Ukraine and Russia, as well as all those who are suffering as a result of injustice, the epidemic, or other challenges and losses exacerbated by the world's brokenness.
When faced with such tragedy, all people need to do is pray to God and listen to the knowledge of prophets, peacekeepers, and love revolutionaries, according to the Emory Presbyterian Church.
Author and activist Valarie Kaur is one of those saints and spiritual mentors who brings hope and light in the midst of adversity, and the church decided to share her thoughts on the situation in Ukraine, how they can help Ukrainians, and how they can process their own stress and grief during these trying times.
May the author's words be a salve for our souls and a spark that ignites people's bones and motivates them to be more compassionate, merciful, and sensitive toward their neighbors as individuals and religious communities.
Interested readers may visit the Emory Presbyterian Church’s Facebook post for more information.
Russia-Ukraine War
According to the Associated Press, a Russian military convoy approaching Kyiv is significantly larger than first thought, with the convoy spanning much of a 40-mile (64-kilometer) stretch of road north of the Ukrainian capital.
The report said explosions and gunfire were reported in contested cities in eastern Ukraine as Russia's assault met with unexpectedly strong resistance.
Russia's military attack on Ukraine entered its fifth day on Monday, according to the report.
Near the Belarusian border, a Ukrainian delegation met with Russian officials, but no agreements were achieved other than to continue discussing. On the phone with Putin, France's President Emmanuel Macron pressed him to end the offensive.
According to the report, the Russian currency has plunged as a result of Western sanctions imposed in response to the invasion, causing ordinary Russians to queue at banks and ATMs.
Russian teams have also been blacklisted from all international soccer matches, including World Cup qualifiers in 2022, thereby making the country a sporting pariah.
According to the report, Kyiv's outgunned but tenacious troops held off Russia's advance for the time being and held on to the capital and other important cities.
The invasion has proven more challenging than the Kremlin anticipated, according to US officials, though this may alter as Moscow adjusts. The airspace of Ukraine remained under Russian control.
Church’s History
According to the church’s website, the foundations of our congregation were laid in the spring of 1940, when the Atlanta Presbytery's Home Mission Committee surveyed the Emory area for a list of potential new congregations to be sponsored by Decatur Presbyterian Church.
Things started out small, with prayer meetings held in people's homes, but on Aug. 25, that year, the budding group held its first worship service at the Emory Women's Club Building on Haygood Drive.
Emory Presbyterian Church has been a major component of the communal life of Atlanta's Druid Hills area for almost 75 years, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and practice. We look forward to many more, trusting in God.
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