RESPONSIVE READING

 

As we come together in prayer, let us remember the word of God, who instructs us to “love the stranger who dwells among you for you were strangers in the Land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19).

 

God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us.

 

For all those who have come fleeing oppression and persecution — black, white, brown and yellow:

 

God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us.

 

For those who have come fleeing hardship and hunger:

 

God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us.

 

For those who have come to join loved ones already here:

 

God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us.

 

For those who have come seeking freedom and opportunity:

 

God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us.

 

Let us remember the words of Christ, who said “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25: 33).

 

When, Lord, were you a stranger that we welcomed among us?

 

“Truly, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).

 

When we welcomed the stranger, we welcomed you, Christ Jesus, in our midst!

 

Loving God, you call us to create hospitable communities. Help us to overcome any fear and anxiety we may have of those who come from other lands to live among us. Give us the courage and wisdom to create compassionate and just immigration policies. Grant that we may all live together in peace and love.  Amen.

 

 

  

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Why, O God,

do our neighbors have to exhaust their strength

to come work in our fields, care for our children,

and build our homes?

 

Why, O God,

do we ask the most vulnerable to endure the

hardship and abuses of work we will not do

ourselves?

 

Why, O God,

do we allow the pursuit of profits

to outweigh our sense of fairness?

 

O God, have mercy on us.

 

(from Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, “God’s People: A People on the Move,” www.kairoscanada.org/e/refugees/migrants/migrationFSreflection.pdf)

 

 

Labor Litany

 

God of all things, we thank you for work.

For in our work you call us to give you honor, serve others and create a loving community.

God of grace and hospitality, we thank you for the many immigrants who come to work and live in our land.

May we serve them as they serve us. May we welcome them, for the Word tells us that as we entertain strangers we entertain God.

When we give drink to the thirsty or feed the hungry,

We serve Jesus our Savior.

God of justice, you call us to treat the laborers in the vineyard fairly.  Your prophets decry the oppression of the workers.

Your people traveled forty years to escape the oppressive work of the Egyptians.

Merciful and forgiving God, when we establish just and living wages, when we create safe and healthy working conditions, when we provide harassment-free working places,

We are setting free the oppressed.  We are creating justice.  We are doing God’s work.

Thanks be to God that in our work we can be faithful and that working with others makes us faithful to our God and Savior.  Amen.

 

 

 

For the World and Its Peoples

 

O God, you are the hope of all the ends of the earth,

         the God of the spirits of all flesh.

Hear our humble intercession for all races and families on earth, 

         that you will turn all hearts to yourself.

Remove from our minds hatred, prejudice, and contempt 

         for those who are not of our own race or color, class or creed, 

that departing from everything that estranges and divides, 

         we may by you be brought into unity of spirit, in the bond of peace.  Amen.

 

(United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 524)

 

 

A Prayer for Neighbor

 

We thank you, God, for coming to us as a neighbor, a stranger, an immigrant,

binding our wounds and carrying us to safety,

so that we might love you with all our heart, soul, and mind,

and welcome the stranger, loving our neighbor as ourselves. 

 

(Adapted from “Short Preface,” www.laughingbird.net/LectionTexts/CP10.html)

 

A Prayer for Immigrants

 

Our God, you have given us in your word the stories of persons who needed to leave their homelands— Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Moses.  Help us to remember that when we speak of immigrants and refugees, we speak of Christ.  In the One who had no place to lay his head, and in the least of his brothers and sisters, you come to us again, a stranger seeking refuge.  We confess that we often turn away.  You have chosen that the life of Jesus be filled with events of unplanned travel and flight from enemies.  You have shown us through the modeling of Jesus how we are called to relate to persons from different nations and cultures.  You have called us to be teachers of your word.  We ask you, our God, to open our minds and hearts to the challenge and invitation to model your perfect example of love. Amen.

 

(adapted from Justice for Immigrants, “Prayer and Liturgy Suggestions,” www.justiceforimmigrants.org/ParishKit/LiturgyPrayerSuggestions.pdf)