Prayer Vigil for Ukraine and Beyond Held in Des Moines March 31, 2022

 

By Christine Sheller 

About thirty people gathered on March 31, 2022 for a Prayer Vigil on Ukraine and Beyond, planned by Kathleen McQuillen, Director, Catholic Peace Ministry, along with several others, including Iowa Peace Network. It was held at 7:00 pm, on the Capitol West Terrace, west of the Capitol steps.  Weathering the cold, in just above freezing temps, those in attendance prayed, sang, shared thoughts, and learned a Ukrainian dance.

                                                            (Krieg/ AFSC)

See pictures thanks to Jon Krieg of AFSC here:  https://photos.afsc.org/pages/search.php?search=%21collection3261&k=6649b65121

The vigil had several objectives.  As the invitation quoted,  “In times when we find no answers we turn to our God/ our higher power.  Join as we lift prayers for wisdom that leads to peace.  The wisdom that finds answers in diplomacy.  The wisdom that stops the bombs in Ukraine, Wisdom that reminds us that there are bombs falling in Syria, Palestine, Yemen…Wisdom that demands NO MORE WARS!”

Persons at the vigil were greeted by a group of Ukrainian youth on their way to choir practice at their church.  Before the vigil started, they asked permission to sing a song for us.  It was a beautiful Ukrainian song, calling on God. They had to leave shortly before the planned vigil started.  We were welcomed by Kathleen McQuillen, and then the Rev. Edgar Solis of First UMC shared a prayer and reflection on Ukraine and other wars going on in the world.  After that, Tim Button-Harrison, District Executive of the Church of the Brethren Northern Plains District, led us in a song: “Peace is Flowing Like a River.”

 Next, several of us who planned the program, took part in lifting up petitions of prayer such as:  “We pray for immediate ceasefire and end to Putin’s attacks and killing and harm to civilians and soldiers... We pray for humanitarian treatment of the 2.5 million who have fled Ukraine… We pray for all the people around the world who are suffering from war, including Ukraine, Palestine, Yemen, Syria, and so many more… We pray for a world without nuclear weapons… We pray for wisdom and courage in negotiating and finding a diplomatic path to end war and build peace.”

 Tim Button-Harrison led the group in a second song, “This is My Song.”  Following that, Kay Kopatich and Carmen Lampe-Zietler explained the dance they were going to lead us in, and we listened to Ukrainian song as we were led in a dance circle.  Jeffrey Weiss, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at DMACC, closed and sent us out.

Channel 8, KCCI News, took video of the vigil, and interviewed Kathleen McQuillen before the vigil.  It was a nice piece on the 10:00 pm news.

Sponsors for this event included:  Catholic Peace Ministry, American Friends Service Committee- Midwest Region, DM Faith Committee for Peace, Iowa Peace Network, Methodist Federation for Social Action- Iowa, Middle East Peace Education Coalition, Outreach Committee- First UMC, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom- Des Moines.

 

Christine Sheller is coordinator and editor at Iowa Peace Network, based in Des Moines, with a remote office as well, in rural Eldora, IA.  She is an M. Div. graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary.