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Christ, You Spoke to Us of Children (hymn)

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W ZLOBIE LEZY 4.4.7.4.4.7.4.4.4.4.7 ("Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”) Christ, you spoke to us of children: “Let the children come to me. Do not stop them, for the kingdom Is for little ones like these.” God, we grieve now as our nation Fails its moral obligation To receive the refugees. Christ, you spoke of God’s intention: “Do not cause my children harm!” Yet we place them in detention, Far from loved ones, scared and worn. Children, huddled close together, Grieve for families that are severed; God of love, what have we done? Christ, you taught us to give water And to help the ones who thirst. Yet in places near the border, We confess we’ve done our worst. Those who walk must now walk farther. We have made their journey harder; We dump water in the dirt. God of immigrant and stranger, God who welcomes those in need, When your children are in danger, Will we love them or concede? May we not seek cheap forgiveness Till we dare to work for justice— Till … [Read more...]

Tagged With: immigration

Prayer for the migrant children and their families

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Lord whose love is boundless, whose mercy knows no borders, whose grace cannot be thwarted by fences, walls or barriers, forgive us for attempting to hold back your compassion, contain your care and put limits on your kindness. You are the one who welcomes the little children. You proclaim that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. You are the Lord who admonishes your followers to feed the hungry and care for the sick, to bind up the broken hearted and welcome the stranger. Lord, we plead for your Spirit of tenderness to overtake our hearts, our congregations and our country. Remove from us any impediment to doing justice and alleviating suffering. Show us your way that is the way of truth, abundance and life, your way that refuses to ignore the cries of the children, the pain of their parents, the desperation of those made in your image. As those who follow Jesus Christ who told us to ask and receive, we humbly ask for wisdom, for courage and for the will to unleash the rivers … [Read more...]

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Racial Equity Advocacy Committee calls for humane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees

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June 24, 2019 Members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), The Racial Equity Advocacy Committee (REAC) is a standing committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its stated purpose is to be “... a prophetic voice for involving people of color in the formation of public policy, particularly where race is a factor that negatively impacts the quality of life of people of color. The committee also monitors the implementation of policies adopted by the church that impact the quality of life of people of color in the church and in the world” (Organization for Mission, VI.1).   Attempting to live up to our commitment as stated above and standing on the solid ground of the policies of the PC(USA) on immigration, REAC stands solidarity with the asylum seekers and refugees from Central America, Africa, and other parts of the world, overwhelmingly people of color, who come to the southern border of the United States of America. The asylum seekers and … [Read more...]

Tagged With: immigration

Sanctuary

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Our coffee table at home was always covered with publications like The Presbyterian Outlook and newsletters from organizations that fought racism and systemic poverty in the United States and our nation’s militaristic interventions in Central America. Our dinner table conversations centered as much around social justice concerns as the activities of three teenagers and the local church my father pastored. In 1986, we discussed the federal conviction of pastor John Fife and seven others on alien smuggling charges. Fife had started a fire in the faith community in 1982 when he led Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, to become the first Sanctuary congregation in the United States. He and Southside were responding to the deaths of migrants in the desert and to the U.S. government’s policy of sending undocumented immigrants back to American-backed death squads in Guatemala and El Salvador. The witness of Southside Presbyterian Church to the gospel call to care for travelers … [Read more...]

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Tucson congregation welcomes asylum-seekers to the “Hotel San Marcos”

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TUCSON, Arizona – St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson can’t fix all that’s wrong with the U.S. immigration system. It can’t end the violence, corruption and despair that drive migrants north to the border. But for one week each month, St. Mark’s can be a place for families seeking asylum to take shelter, to have a meal, to be shown human kindness. Since October, St. Mark’s has become part of a faith-based network of pop-up shelters in Tucson – one of a handful of local congregations working together to assist with the overflow from the city’s two main shelters. “We have turned two of our fellowship halls into what we call Hotel San Marcos,” said Bart Smith, pastor of St. Mark’s. “We’ve committed to doing this one week a month until we are no longer needed.” The new arrangement began with urgency last October, when immigration officials dropped off more asylum seekers than usual – pushing the existing shelters past capacity. Since last summer, Tucson has seen – as … [Read more...]

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#LoveKnowsNoBorders: The privilege, people and power of nonviolent protest

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Guest commentary by Bruce Reyes-Chow “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35) Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) Face to face with a riot-geared border patrol agent. My body inches away from rubber bullet rifles and tear gas canisters. His baton raised and pushing, pushing, pushing at my chest. The line of agents chanting and advancing with an eerie synchronicity — “Move back!” Step. Push. “Move back!” Step. Push. “Move back!” Step. Push. My hands raised above my head. My body braced. My spirit calm. I close my eyes to remember and pray for those to who would have already been beaten and detained, if not for the camera lenses that were protecting us. “Move back!” Step. Push. I open my eyes to look into the eyes of this human being in front of me searching for compassion and … [Read more...]

Tagged With: immigration

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