This morning we join with other Christians around the world in a Global Day of Prayer for the Ukraine.
From the Cathedral's St Peter's Chapel, Dean Nicholas offers prayers from the Eastern Orthodox tradition as we come together to pray for peace.
Update: Donations have now been collected so please support Ukraine through the Disasters Emergency Committee fund.
Details of Felsted Aid, an organisation coordinating support can be found here. Donations can be left at the Cathedral and will be delivered to Felsted Aid who have two lorries going out at the end of March. They have been delivering to Ukraine for many years but there are specific requests so please see their Facebook page (link above) for a list. Items include sanitary products, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and shower gel. Toothbrushes and toothpaste, nappies, baby wipes and washing powder/liquid.
Please leave your donations in St Peters Chapel no later than the 14th March. Funding in excess of £8000 is needed to transport two lorries with supplies. To donate by bank transfer see charity banking details below:
Santander
Felsted Aid for deprived children
Account number: 71315484
Sort code: 09-01-53
Reference: For Maldova
The Polish Shop in Braintree, Minidelikatesy Kubus, is also collecting products and delivering them free to a town close to the Polish/Ukrainian border. Items required include mattresses, blankets, sleeping bags and bedding, children and baby clothes and shoes, nappies, feeding bottles, hygiene and cosmetic products first aid kits and dried food stuffs with a long sell-by date. Please drop any donations to 10 Market Street, Braintree. CM7 3YA.
In Chelmsford, 15 or so Afghan refugee families are currently being housed in hotels in Chelmsford. They too need equipment and donations of educational equipment including pencil sharpners, rubbers, pencils, glue sticks, baby picture books, calculators and colouring and wordsearch books. In additon if you have any word or number games, PCs, laptops and headphones, these would also be gratefully received. For the latest list of items required or if you are able to help, please contact Soroush Ebrahini
The Vice Dean, Canon Ivor has recorded an appeal for help along with prayers for peace for Ukraine.