A Silent Night Ukraine Still Awaits This Christmas
Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright… We love this carol because it lifts our eyes to the moment when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We imagine a serene scene for Mary and Joseph, yet even that night was likely far from calm, more chaotic than we tend to portray. Much like the nights Ukraine endures today.
Nighttime, usually a symbol of rest, has become anything but restful in Ukraine. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, darkness brings air-raid sirens, explosions, and constant vigilance. Even when attacks don’t come, the fear of them fractures rest. My phone’s daily barrage of air-raid alerts are a small reminder of what millions endure without pause.
These sleepless nights carry deep, often hidden costs. Parents keep their children dressed to run to a shelter. Many elderly we serve sleep sitting up for speed rather than comfort. What began near military or infrastructure targets affects every neighborhood. Exhaustion is only the beginning: weakened immune systems, rising anxiety, illness spread in cold shelters, children unable to focus, and pastors and doctors seeing the toll of relentless stress and fatigue. These wounds rarely make headlines, yet they shape daily life. Please join us in praying for strength and health for those living with this strain.
Yet God is at work in the chaos. At Music Mission Kiev, we witness how service, fellowship, and worship speak a counter-voice into the noise of war. The resilience of our Ukrainian staff is inspiring, and the faithful volunteerism of widows, pensioners, and youth strengthens everyone they serve.
When the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus rehearses or performs, many often describe the music as a “quiet night”—a momentary refuge for the soul. It cannot replace peace, but it offers a glimpse of it, a warm blanket wrapped around weary hearts.
Until Ukraine can once again sleep in silence, we stand with our friends, offering compassion, prayer, and the steady hope of the Lord’s peace—the peace that “surpasses all understanding”—to guard them through every restless night. Thank you for standing with us in this mission of peace.