23rd June 2026

Early yesterday morning dozens of drones were shot down over Moscow. The Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said on Telegram that 84 drones targeting Moscow were intercepted.  Airports near the Russian capital had temporarily suspended flights.  In Ukraine, Russian troops have entered the city of Kostyantynivka and are now trying to surround it. Ceasing control of the town will be strategically important enabling Russian forces to push towards, the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, Ukraine's last remaining strongholds in the east, and move closer to seizing the Donbas completely, one of the Kremlin's key objectives in this war. 

Loving God, we bring to you our concerns for people in Ukraine and Russia.  May they be able to live their lives as good neighbours.  May they not have to live in fear of drones, destruction, death or domination. Comfort all who grieve the deaths of those they love, or mourn the destruction of towns and communities that hold precious memories.  Guide them through the challenges of each day.  We also pray for your guidance for all who are working to bring and end to this war.  Grant them wisdom, understanding and interpersonal skills to draw the waring sides together so an agreement can be made to end the slaughter. In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.  

Tom Wilmott, from Manchester UK, is a great football fan, but also has a heart for Brain Tumour Support and Compton Care hospice in Wolverhampton.  So, he is running one mile for every goal scored in every World Cup game each day to raise money for these organisations.  He has run 121 miles in 11 days so far - his longest being 19 miles in one day - and raised £1,635 towards a £2,000 target. This is an amazing effort because the UK is currently experiencing record high temperatures, possibly reaching 40C today. Tom fits in his running around his job.  He has been getting up at about 05:00 to run some miles before work and finishing with a run later in the evening.  He said it was important to think about those who loved the World Cup but were not able to enjoy it because of their own or someone else's illness.  "Similarly there's people who would love nothing more but to go for a run" he said. "I'm so blessed that I'm able to go out and run 10 miles - some people would say crazy - but I still have that opportunity and that's why I think it's important," he added.  Historic data for World Cup tournaments, and factoring in the expanded team format this year, Tom is expecting an average of three goals a game, which will total around 300 goals - that's 300 miles to run!

Loving God, I give you thanks and praise

for all your blessings.

You have provided me with more

than I could ever have ask or even imagine.

I thank you for

the wonder and magnificence of the natural world.

I am in awe at its diversity and interrelated nature,

I thank you for its beauty of sight, sound,

smell, taste and texture.

I thank you for friends and family

and all who love and care for me

in good times and in bad.

I thank you for food and home

and all that sustains me in earthly life.

 I thank you for your love and peace,

for contentment and fulfilment.

I thank you for your guidance

to help me to make good and right decisions;

you speak to me in so many different ways.

I thank you for your forgiveness

when I am weak and stray from your way,

when I behave in ways unworthy of a child of yours.

I thank you for Jesus Christ my Saviour.

I thank you for your Holy Spirit.

I am grateful to you for all the blessings you gave to me, Lord. Amen.