Statement and prayer following Manchester attack

From the Revd Dr Roger Walton,President of the Methodist Conference, and Rachel Lampard,Vice-President of the Methodist Conference

We are appalled by the horrific bombing at the ManchesterArena. We pray for the families of those who have been killedor who are injured, and for those, many of whom will be young, whohave been scarred and scared by what they havewitnessed. 

We give thanks for the emergency services and for the manyordinary people who demonstrated compassion in responding to thosecaught up in the tragedy. We ask the Methodist people to holdthe people of Manchester and beyond in their prayers as we rememberthe words of Psalm 34, "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace andpursue it."

From Andrew Lunn, Chair of Manchester and StockportDistrict, and Paul Martin, Chair Bolton andRochdale District

In the face of the violent and deadly attack at theManchester Arena last night, the Methodist people in Manchester areunited with many others in their sense of shock, and in theirprayers for all those who have been bereaved, wounded, ortraumatised. 

As we seek to respond to this terrible event we aregrateful for those who have affirmed that, so far as it ispossible, we will not let this attack change our daily lives. Somepeople have been tweeting using the hashtag #WeAreNotAfraid - inthis way those who are stronger support those who feel the weightof anxiety, pain and fear.

Among the stories beginning to emerge there are many aboutthe ways people have sought to help others: providing safe places,or lifts home, or passing on messages to help those who wereseparated find each other. It is through such small acts that wereaffirm our commitment to one another. Every such act makes astand against violence and fear.

In a diverse city one thing we can be sure of is thatpeople in Manchester will not let this event divide us.

Manchester is the home of a movement called We StandTogether (#WeStandTogether), in which people of manydifferent faiths and backgrounds recognise that we find strength inour common humanity.

We are deeply grateful for the many assurances of prayerwhich we have received from around the country.

God of compassion and mercy,
amidst the pain and trauma of this day we turn to you,
for through Christ crucified we know that you have taken to heartthe suffering of our people.

In fear and anxiety, strengthen us.
In despair and pain, comfort us.
In incomprehension and anger, reassure us that your love and lifeare stronger than the hatred and violence which overshadows ourcity today.

Console those who carry a burden of loss, injury, or trauma andempower all who support them.
Strengthen all who seek to stand together in peace andunity.

We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

From Tim Annan, Youth President of the MethodistChurch

It's hard to look at the images and storiescoming out of Manchester today and not feel rage at this horrificact of violence against people; all of whom were just going to livelife to its fullest.

Lives have been irreconcilably changed last night. Anempty seat at the table. A smile and warm embrace; now missing. Westand with all those who grieve this morning, in our thoughts andprayers. Holding the pain with the anger.

Yet, in the face of the anger, confusion and grief, theresponse of the people of Manchester was love and compassion. Fromthe emergency services responding quickly and effectively, to themany people who opened up their homes to those who needed a placeto stay, to cab drivers transporting distraught people for free toa place to rest. Even at the darkest moment, humanity, compassionand hope shone through.

Beautiful and terrible things will happen, but don't givein to anger or fear. Know that you aresurrounded by God's love.

From Alison Ransome, North West & Mann learning& development coordinator,  on behalf of the MethodistChurch Learning & Development Network  

We stand with all the people of Manchester as we travel to workand school today around this region. We stand in unity and hopewith all our neighbours in Manchester.

We weep with God today for the tragic loss of life and woundingof innocent young women and their families and friends.

We join with people this morning at the cordon offering all wecan to help and we remember the words of scripture that "The lightshines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it", andthe words of a poem by Thomas Moore "Darkness shows us worlds oflight we never saw by day". We see this light shining brightly inall the people of Manchester today, who in words of a taxi driver"are like glue - we stick together" and we offer our prayers.

From the six Presidents of Churches Together in England(CTE)

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those bereaved and injuredby the cruel, senseless terrorist attack in Manchester. May Godgrant them strength and courage.

Our faith teaches us that even the worst of evils can neverdefeat love, so we pray that the people of Manchester, of allfaiths and none, will discover a renewed unity as they respond tothis atrocity with compassion, dignity and hope.

From Thomas G. Kemper, General Secretary, General Boardof Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church

Shocked by the news from Manchester. Targeting children andyouth is so sick and my prayers are with the people in Manchesterand of course our friends in the Methodist Church in Britain. Wehave a big staff event today and we will have a moment of silenceand solidarity for the victims.

May we fight violence and hatred everywhere and overcome evilwith love. There is no other way. Thank you for yourpartnership. 

From Bishop Sifredo Teixeira, the Methodist Church inPortugal

I am sending you this email after hearing the very bad and sadnews about the many people killed and injured in the suicide attackthat took place at Manchester Arena, and the many young peopleaffected.

The Portuguese Methodist Church is praying for all those who aresuffering, for all those that are helping, for all the Britishchurches involved in helping and for all those that have to takedecisions and actions to help the world be a better and peacefulplace.

In these occasions we are led to hear the words coming from theHoly Scriptures like the ones said by the Apostle Paul: "For I amconvinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither heightnor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able toseparate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 8:38-39.

May the peace of Jesus, the peace that the world cannot give, bewith you, with the British Methodist Church and with all that areaffected with what happened in Manchester.

From your brother in Jesus, representing the Methodist Church inPortugal. 

From Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, Evangelical MethodistChurch, United Methodist Church, Germany

Dear friends from the Methodist Church in Great Britain,

It is so sad that I have to contact you again because of aterrible attack that causes a lot of pain and grief. I am prayingfor you who are in leadership roles in the Methodist Church inGreat Britain. May you be surrounded by God's peace so that youwill be enabled to comfort others and to work forreconciliation.

The thoughts and prayers of the people here in Germany are withthe victims, their families and all that are threatened.

I am currently in Berlin, where tomorrow the big GermanProtestant Convention, called 'Kirchentag' will be starting. It isan exciting atmosphere full of expectation, people talking with oneanother and assisting one another where to go - and yet we know howdifferently life looks like for many others who are victims ofviolence or starving for many reasons.

Archbishop Justin Welby will be speaking tomorrow at the openingservice. Please pray for us that the event will be peaceful andinspiring for the 100,000 people that are going to take part.