FEELING utterly helpless about the situation in Ukraine and with insufficient words to say, Rev Alison Richardson stood outside Crediton Methodist Church on Saturday, February 26, and invited folk to show solidarity and silent prayers or thoughts.

Most passers by wanted to show solidarity and many prayed for the innocent Ukrainians and Russians caught up in the horror.

Although Alison originally intended to be outside the church for a couple of hours, she was there for four hours as a lot of people wanted to share their feelings of helplessness.

Alison is particularly grateful to the gentleman who ministered to her during this time.

Alison drew round some people’s hands, representing prayers they said and unity we could show with the innocent people in Ukraine and Russia.

On Sunday morning, February 27, as the congregation entered the church, they were handed a small cut out teardrop in either red, denoting bloodshed, or white, denoting tears. These teardrops were collected during the Communion Service which followed the morning service.

Rev Richardson planned to preach on Sunday evening also, but felt called to invite the congregation to pray silently for the whole service.

The teardrops that were collected in the morning were then affixed to the hands that were drawn round on Saturday denoting our thoughts and prayers.

Bronwyn Nott