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PRAY NOW: TODAY'S PRAYER
Asylum
'Then the fugitive shall be taken into the city, and given a place, and shall remain with them.'
Prayer
Thy will be done.
Fugitives from injustice
deserve sanctuary,
inviolable refuge
from persecution or oppression.
Each asylum seeker given
welcome and fair hearing.
And as those bloodied feet in ancient times
fled along safety-seeking roads,
so the flights continue
in the desperation-driven refugee
suffering the suffocating darkness of the ship's hold
or bearing the battering in the hidden depths of the lorry's load.
And then arrival!
Bent figures -
hungry, thirsty, bewildered, frightened
and with
nothing
but a hope, a dream
that things might be better here!
No room at the inn of the city -
Christ, those words after such journeying -
but we have a place round the back.
You may call it a stable
but we call it a detention centre.
Surely new life can begin anywhere?
Isn't that what the Gospel's about?
O God, help us to make our city
one of Your cities of refuge and justice.
It's the least we can do in Jesus' name.
His cruciform arms embrace
every asylum seeker
and there is room for everyone.
Readings
Genesis 16:1–11 Hagar flees from Sarai but finds refuge in the Lord’s angel
Exodus 12:33–42 The Israelites flee from Egypt without any provisions
Joshua 20:1–8 The Lord appoints cities of refuge
Ruth 1:1–5 Famine at home causes Elimelech’s family to flee to Moab
Matthew 2:13–18 Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee from Herod to Egypt
Matthew 11:28–30 Jesus invites us to find refuge in Him
Prayer activity
Think! What are your ten most precious possessions? Imagine having to leave
your home and country and you cannot take any of them with you. When you
arrived in the new place, what would you most need? Now give thanks for what
you have and pray for those who arrive here with nothing.
Prayer for the Church
Those who remind us that 'the world belongs unto the Lord' and that we are stewards
and carers for creation
especially those involved with the eco-congregations' project, church energy
conservation and local 'recyclers'.
Blessing
Bless
finders and keepers,
losers and weepers,
hiders and seekers
that all may be found
in the Kingdom of God;
a place of asylum
called Love of the Lord.
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