2 Jan 2017

Prayer For the World's Refugees

Za'atari refugee camp, Jordan
Za’atari refugee camp, Jordan
Listening God,
The entire world is speaking more and more of refugees.
We come to you knowing that throughout history, your people have been ‘strangers’ and ‘aliens’ in foreign lands; from the flood to the Exodus to Jesus’ family fleeing into Egypt.
We come to you, Holy One, knowing that you hear all of our prayers.
Loving God, we now hold up in prayer all those who are this day impacted by armed conflict, political persecution, environmental devastation, or any other devastating reality that forces displacement.
We hold before you:
  • the more than 4 million Syrians who have become refugees in the past 4 years, and the 100,000 who have found relocation somewhere in the world.
  • the nearly 60 million people who have been forcibly displaced; refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum-seekers, and stateless people.
  • the children, who make up more than half of all the displaced.
  • all those who are living in constant upheaval, uncertainty, and fear.
  • those for whom ‘home’ no longer exists, for whom chaotic instability is the only option.
We hold before you:
  • the people who are working to assist those in greatest need; providing for physical and psychological needs, and helping break down language and political barriers.
  • the systems that were not designed to cope with the magnitude of our present reality.
We hold before you:
  • ourselves: opening our hearts and minds to remember that no one chooses to be a refugee; that we live comparably safe and stable lives; that we take countless liberties for granted.
  • our own fears, no matter how irrational: fear of change, fear of loss, fear of the unknown.
God of hope and healing, may we not feel guilt for our privilege, but rather be inspired to act.
May our prayers be felt from our hearts, may our prayers be heard from our lips, may our prayers be known by our actions.

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