Refugee Week

This is Refugee Week.
If you visit the website (https://refugeeweek.org.uk/) you will find a number of ideas for positive action.
One is to imagine how the world would be if displaced people were truly welcome and their gifts and talents celebrated.
At the close of the day let us imagine what our Church, our community, our country could be like if God ruled.

In the words of poet Lemn Sissay:

I will not limit myself.
I will not be afraid.
If it were not imagined,
how else could it be made?

You are no longer aliens in a foreign land, but fellow citizens with God’s people, members of God’s household. You are built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the Cornerstone.

Ephesians 2: 19–20

Do not neglect to show hospitality; by doing this some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those in prison, as if you were there with them, and those who are being maltreated, for you are vulnerable too.

Hebrews 13: 2–3

Lord God, in a time when we have to imagine new ways to offer the hand of friendship,
help us seek out people wandering and displaced,
strangers in a foreign land or all alone in a country called home.
As we prepare to offer Cornerstone for private prayer,
bless our leaders with insight and imagination,
that once again we can give to the City a place of comfort,
of sanctuary, a place to come close to God.
In the name of Christ, the wanderer.

Amen

With unflagging zeal, aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer; contribute to the needs of God’s people and practise hospitality.

Romans 12: 11–13

Lord God, we lift to you the people in our community who serve despite the risks,
who continue through exhaustion with determination and hope.
In the words of Saint Augustine:

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ, rest your weary ones,
bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, pity your afflicted ones,
shield your joyous ones and all for your love’s sake.

Amen

A prayer from Amy Carmichael:

Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas.

Bless parents and children with unending zeal for learning.
Spark their imagination with creativity so when children can return to school,
they are inspired to become the great community builders of tomorrow.
In the name of Christ, the teacher, O Lord maintain their hope.

Amen

Now God is living with humanity. He will live among them and they shall be his people and God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There shall be an end to death and to mourning and crying and pain, for the old order has passed away.

Revelation 21: 3b–4

Lord God, as we prepare for sleep, keep us focused on your promise of a new order,
when darkness and depression will be replaced with light, when the broken will be renewed,
when the circles of our lives will touch again and embrace again our friends in Christ.
In the name of the caring Jesus.

Amen

Finally, hear a blessing from Martin Luther King:

And now to him who is able to keep us from falling and lift us
from the dark valley of despair to the bright mountain of hope,
from the midnight of desperation to the daybreak of joy,
to him be power and authority, for ever and ever.

Amen

Good night and sleep well in your future imaginings, Cornerstone people.

Cheryl Montgomery