Deuteronomy10:17-19
FortheLordyourGod defendsthecauseofthe fatherlessandthe widow,andlovesthe foreignerresiding amongyou,givingthem foodandclothing.And youaretolovethose whoareforeigners,for youyourselveswere foreignersinEgypt.
ReflectionQuestions
Devotional
ThroughoutScripture,GodrepeatedlyalignsHimself withthevulnerable thewidow,theorphan,andthe foreigner.Hedoesnotmerelysuggestkindness;He commandsmercy.Intoday’sworld,many immigrantsandrefugeesliveinfearofdeportation, separationfromtheirfamilies,andbeingforcedinto dangeroussituations.AsfollowersofChrist,wemust standwiththeminbothwordanddeed.
TheEpiscopalChurchhaslongupheldthedignityof immigrants,advocatingforpoliciesthatprotectthem andprovidingsanctuariesforthoseindanger.But advocacystartswiththeheart.Howwillwerespond toGod’scalltolovetheforeigneramongus?
Howdoesthispassagechallengeyourunderstandingofjusticefor immigrants? 1. Whatpersonalexperiencesshapethewayyouviewimmigration?2. Whatfearsorbiasesmightholdyoubackfromactivelydefendingthe vulnerable? 3
JournalingPrompt
Writeaboutatimewhenyouneededprotectionorsupport.Howdiditfeel? Howcanthisexperienceshapeyourcompassionformigrantstoday?
. CalltoAction
Researchorganizationsinyourareathatprovidelegalaid,sanctuary,or materialsupporttoundocumentedimmigrants.Considerwaystogetinvolved.
Matthew2:13-15
Sohegotup,tookthe childandhismother duringthenightandleft forEgypt,wherehe stayeduntilthedeathof Herod
Devotional
JesusbeganHisearthlylifeasarefugee.Fleeingstate violence,MaryandJosephtookHimtoEgypt,seeking safety.Thisrealityshouldshapehowweseemodern-day migrants.TheHolyFamilywouldhavebeen undocumented,dependentonthehospitalityand protectionofothers
AsChristians,wecannotignorethosewhoareina
similarpositiontoday.Deportationsoftenforcepeoplebackintowarzones, economicdevastation,andlife-threateningsituations.Howcanwe,astheBodyof Christ,ensurethatnooneseekingrefugeisturnedaway?
ReflectionQuestions
HowdoesknowingthatJesuswasarefugeechangethewayyouviewtoday’s migrants? 1. WhatwouldithavebeenlikeforMaryandJosephtofleewithanewbornchild?2. Whatdoesthispassagerevealaboutthemoralresponsibilityofsafenations?3.
JournalingPrompt
Reflectonwhatitmeanstoofferrefugetoothers.HowcanyouembodyChrist’slove toimmigrantsincrisis?
. CalltoAction
Findouthowyourchurchordiocesesupportsimmigrants.Ifthereisnoactive program,considerhowyoucanhelpstartone.
Hebrews13:1-2
Donotforgettoshow hospitalitytostrangers, forbysodoingsome peoplehaveshown hospitalitytoangels withoutknowingit.
Devotional
HospitalityinScriptureisnotjustaboutbeingfriendly; itisaboutofferingprotection,sustenance,and shelter.Intimesofpoliticalfearandimmigration crackdowns,biblicalhospitalitymaymeanproviding food,legalaid,orevensanctuary. ManyEpiscopalchurcheshavedeclaredthemselves assanctuaries safespacesforimmigrantsatrisk. Whetherthroughdirectactionoradvocatingfor compassionatepolicies,wearecalledtoembodythis radicalwelcome.
ReflectionQuestions
Whatisthedifferencebetweenhospitalityandprotection?1. Haveyoueverexperiencedradicalhospitality?Howdiditimpactyou? 2 Whatbarrierspreventyoufromextendingthiskindofhospitality?3.
JournalingPrompt
Writeaboutatimewhensomeone’shospitalitymadeyoufeelsafe Howcan youofferthatsamesecuritytoothers?
. CalltoAction
ExploretheChurch’sworkonsanctuarycongregationsandadvocacy.Consider attendinganinformationalmeetingororganizingamutualaidorganizationat yourparish.
Luke10:25-37
ButaSamaritan,ashe traveled,camewhere themanwas;andwhen hesawhim,hetookpity onhim.
Devotional
TheSamaritan,unliketheothersinJesus’parable, didn’taskfortheman’sstatusbeforehelpinghim.He sawsomeoneinneedandacted.Today,many immigrantsareleftbeatenbyunjustsystems, vulnerabletodetentionanddeportation,fearingfor theirlivesintheirhomecountry.Likethereligious leaderswhopassedbyontheotherside,wecan eitherignorethemortakeaction.Toloveour neighbormeansprotectingthem,evenwhenitis inconvenient.WhatwouldtheGoodSamaritandoin today’sworld?
ReflectionQuestions
Whoarethe“beatenandabandoned”inyourcommunity?1. Whatsystemsallowinjusticetocontinue?2. HowcanyoubeaGoodSamaritanintheimmigrationcrisis?3.
JournalingPrompt
Writeabouthowyoumightfeelifyouhadtofleeyourhomecountry.Where wouldyougo?Whatwouldyouhopefor?
CalltoAction
Findoutifthereisalocalimmigrantjusticeadvocacygroupyoucansupport.
Proverbs31:8-9
Speakupforthose whocannotspeak forthemselves,for therightsofallwho aredestitute.
ReflectionQuestions
Devotional
Faithfulwitnessisnotjustaboutcharity itisabout justice.Manyimmigrantsdonothaveavoiceinlegal systems,workplaces,orpublicdiscourse.Aspeopleof faith,wearecalledtoadvocateforpoliciesthat protectthem
Lovingourneighbormeansusingwhateverprivilege wehavetodefendthosewhoaresilenced.
Whatinjusticesdoimmigrantsfaceinyourcommunity?1. Howcanfaithcommunitiesusetheirvoicesforchange? 2 Whatisonepracticalwayyoucanadvocateforsomeoneelse?3.
JournalingPrompt
Reflectonatimewhensomeonespokeupforyou Howdiditchangeyour situation?
. CalltoAction Writetoagovernmentofficialadvocatingforhumaneimmigrationpolicies
Isaiah41:10
Donotfear,forIam withyou;donotbe dismayed,forIam yourGod"
ReflectionQuestions
Devotional
Fearisoftenusedasaweapon fearof“theother,” fearofscarcity,fearofchange.ButGodcommandsus nottobeafraid.IfwetrustthatHeiswithus,wecan actboldlyinloveandjustice.
Howdoesfearinfluenceimmigrationpolicies?1. WheredoyouseefaithovercomingfearinScripture?2. Howcanyoureplacefearwithaction?3.
JournalingPrompt
Writeaboutatimewhenfaithhelpedyouovercomefear. . CalltoAction
Committolearningaboutthestrugglesofimmigrantsbeyondthenewscycle.
Revelation7:9-10
AfterthisIlooked,and therebeforemewasa greatmultitudethatno onecouldcount,from everynation,tribe, peopleandlanguage, standingbeforethe throneandbeforethe Lamb.Theywere wearingwhiterobes andwereholdingpalm branchesintheirhands.
10Andtheycriedoutin aloudvoice:
“Salvationbelongsto ourGod, whositsonthethrone, andtotheLamb.”
Devotional
Heavenisfilledwithpeopleofeverynationand tongue.ThekingdomofGodtranscendsborders.If thisisoureternalreality,thenourchurchesand communitiesshouldreflectitnow.
ReflectionQuestions
1.
Howdoesthispassagechallengenationalistic views?
2.
Whatdoesaborderlesskingdommeanforhow wetreatimmigrantstoday?
3.
HowcanyouliveasacitizenofGod’skingdom first?
JournalingPrompt
Writeavisionforaworldwhereallaretreatedwith dignity . CalltoAction
Supportanimmigrantfamilyinyourareawitha tangibleactoflove.
Resources
BooksonImmigration&ChristianHospitality
TheGodWhoSees:Immigrants,theBible,andtheJourneytoBelong–Karen González
WelcomingtheStranger:Justice,Compassion,andTruthintheImmigration Debate–MatthewSoerens&JennyYang
NoLongerStrangers:TransformingEvangelismwithImmigrantCommunities–EugeneCho
StrangersintheLand:ASix-WeekDevotionalonImmigration,theChurch,and theBible–M DanielCarrollR
Videos&Documentaries
“TheChurch&Immigration”–AshortvideobyEpiscopalMigrationMinistries explainingtheEpiscopalChurch’sroleinimmigrationjustice.
"TheImmigrationParadox"(2014)–Adocumentaryonthemythsandrealitiesof immigration
PBSDocumentary:“Frontline:Separated–ChildrenattheBorder”–ExaminesU.S. immigrationpoliciesandfamilyseparations.
JesuitRefugeeService(JRS)VideoSeriesonMigrantJourneys–Storiesoffaithand resiliencefrommigrants
Advocacy&DirectActionOpportunities
SignUpfortheEpiscopalChurch’sAdvocacyAlerts: https://episcopalchurch.org/ministries/office-government-relations/
Find&SupportSanctuaryChurches: Ifyourparishisinterestedinbecomingasanctuarycongregation,resourcesare availableatSanctuaryMovement.
Legal&HumanitarianAidforImmigrants: RAICES–Provideslegalservicesfordetainedimmigrants BorderAngels–Supportshumanitarianreliefandadvocacy LutheranImmigrationandRefugeeService(LIRS)–Partnerswithchurchesfor resettlementandadvocacy.
