VOLUNTEER W O R L D
APPRECIATION
R E L I E F
WEEK
C H I C A G O L A N D
OCTOBER C E L E B R A T I N G
12-16 T H E
V O L U N T E E R S
L I G H T
S H I N E
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEAR
VOLUNTEERS,
We miss you! We so deeply wish we could be celebrating with you in person, and we cannot wait for that
R E S O U R C E S
T O
U S E
T H R O U G H O U T
T H E
W E E K
day to come. This year, more than ever, we want to thank you and celebrate you!
D A I L Y
D E V O T I O N S
In these days when the darkness around us can feel overwhelming, you have been a
R E F U G E E
&
LIGHT on the path .
You
have been a light that keeps shining
I M M I G R A N T
and serving, that keeps welcoming
I N S P I R E D R E C I P E S
T O
T R Y
and wading into the unknowns of this year. Thank you for shining your light!
T E L L
Y O U R
V O L U N T E E R S T O R Y
To celebrate you this week, we have
O F
S H I N I N G
A
compiled resources, devotions, and L I G H T
more to celebrate you and help you tell your own story of shining a light in the darkness. We hope this blesses you and fills you with a
bright hope
as we continue together.
Thank you so very much volunteers!
with deep gratitude, WORLD
RELIEF
CHICAGOLAND CHURCH
&
VOLUNTEER
ENGAGEMENT
TEAM
MUSIC
OF
APPRECIATION
To celebrate you and the light you bring as volunteers, join us in listening to songs of light and joy from around the world. Access the playlist by clicking here or searching Spotify for WR Chicagoland Volunteer Appreciation Week.
CELEBRATE
WITH
FOOD!
Try out a recipe from another corner of the globe! Also consider dining at one of our favorite immigrant-owned restaurants.
Aurora: E l T i o , U S a m b a , B a b a K a b a b Chicago: K a b o b i , E t h i o p i a n D i a m o n d , Kaybee's Indian Flavor
DuPage:
Chef Abdul's Mediterranean, Pa Lian, Ethio Beans
SOCIAL
MEDIA
Be sure to follow us on facebook or instagram as we appreciate you all week. Share on your own social media accounts what recipes you're trying, how volunteering has brought light to you, or how you're celebrating shining a light as a volunteer!
ENTER OUR RAFFLE! Tag World Relief as you share o n s o c i a l m e d i a , a n d w e ' l l choose 5 winners at the end of the week to win some World Relief swag!
Ways to Celebrate Volunteer Appreciation all week!
READING: FEATURED
Monday J O H N
SONG:
1 : 1 - 5
S T A I N E D
G L A S S
B Y
J O H N
L U C A S
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that l darkness, and
ife was the light of all mankind . T h e t h e darkness has not overcome it.
light shines in the
The entire Gospel of John is filled with declarations of the light of Christ scattering darkness, telling stories of Jesus being light in the darkest places. Jesus was not afraid of the darkness, nor did he shy away from those whose stories were riddled with darkness. Jesus, our Light, cannot be overcome by darkness. Jesus is a Light for us all along the path, and he so deeply wants to meet you in the darkest moments, to hold you and walk with you into the Light.
I once went on a walk in my neighborhood and found myself a little lost. I ended up pretty far from home in a neighborhood with no street lights. My anxieties grew as I recognized nothing around me, until eventually, I turned a corner and saw one bright street lamp that illuminated my surroundings and got my bearings back.
light
made a difference for me.
One light
One
brought me home.
How have your refugee and immigrant neighbors been a light to you? How have you been a light to them?
BLESSI NGS
FOR
THE
DAY:
A Blessing for those who tutor, mentor, and teach our refugee and immigrant neighbors:
May Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path. May Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon our immigrant and refugee neighbors and scatter the darkness from before their path. (Traditional Kenyan Blessing)
Tuesday READING: FEATURED
P S A L M
SONG:
3 2 : 8 ,
O M E K A N N A Y A
P S A L M B Y
1 1 9 : 1 0 5
M E R C Y
C H I N W O
As a parent, there have been times I have had to give my children immediate instructions, and most times they ask me "But why mummy?" and my response, "Because mummy said so!" :) And there have been times I have had to stop everything I’m doing and seize that opportunity to teach them an important life
God s o m e o n e t o d o s o m e t h i n g ; God Teaches t o d o s o m e t h i n g ; God Counsels - t o g i v e
lesson. Psalm 32:8 lays out three important ways the Lord guides us:
Instructs -
to direct or command
show or explain to someone how
to
advice to someone.
I have found moments of His instructions sometimes uncomfortable, not exactly the way I want to do things, and I find myself struggle just like my children when they ask me “but why?”. No wonder Psalm 119:105 says your word is a lamp to my feet…ouch! That would definitely feel uncomfortable! I have tried to imagine that scripture literally and can’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have a lamp tied to ones feet. At the same time, I have found moments of His teaching totally transformative, changing mindsets and building a solid foundation for new thinking and moments of His counsel gently leading to His purpose. I have found His instructions, commands, His teachings and counsels gently molding and conforming me to His image and to who He wants me to be. If this lamp to my feet lights my path, I would gladly put it on-every day. This is the lamp that lights my path-His word! Proverbs 6:23, “For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light.”
How have you seen the decrees of the Lord guiding you and giving you light even when you were experiencing darkness?
BLESSI NGS
FOR
THE
DAY:
A Blessing for those who befriend, learn from, and pray for our refugee and immigrant neighbors:
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in ourhearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
R E A D I N G: F E A T U R E D
M A T T H E W
S ON G:
D A R K
4 : 1 6
B E F O R E
The people living in darkness have seen a of death
T H E
Wednesday D A W N
great light ;
B Y
A N D R E W
P E T E R S O N
on those living in the land of the shadow
a light has dawned .
This verse paints a picture of hope through the image of light, but the first layer of paint is dark - “the people living in darkness”, “those living in the land of the shadow of death.”
As we head into winter, the phrase, “the people living in
darkness,” feels perhaps all too relatable. Most of us dread the long December days of waking up in the dark and driving home from work in the dark. The cheer of Christmas lights and cozy candles get me through as I eagerly await earlier dawns and longer days. But this verse refers to an even heavier darkness than the darkness of long winter days. It speaks to
pain and sorrow
the darkness of injustice and evil,
- a darkness that many of those we extend welcome to have
tasted in more concentrated doses. And this verse tells us that on that darkness, l
ight has dawned.
I have to confess, as much as I want to draw hope from these words, a part of me asks, “But where is that light that has dawned? We still live in darkness, under the shadow of death.”
And maybe that’s how the people hearing Jesus speak these
words felt. Maybe they too responded with a tentative hope; with an, “I’d like to believe this, I hope it’s true,” kind of hope. So what next? I think the next verse shows us the way forward: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Jesus tells us to hope. Then what? Then the rest of his life and ministry. Then Jesus. Then the kingdom of heaven. Light has dawned on darkness - in Christ, in his body the Church through which his spirit continues to work, in his kingdom of
Light has dawned. Let us welcome it. Let us rejoice in it. Let us be part of it. justice and mercy, of righteousness and peace.
How are you rejoicing in the light today?
BLESSI NGS
FOR
THE
DAY:
A Blessing for those who donate items to create welcoming homes for our refugee and immigrant neighbors:
May the blessing of light be upon you, light on the outside and light on the inside. With God's sunlight shining on you, may your heart glow with warmth like a turf fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike. May the light of the Lord shine from your eyes like a candle in the window, welcoming the weary traveller. (Traditional Irish Blessing)
Thursday READING: F E A T U R E D
P S A L M
S ON G:
M Y
1 1 9 : 1 0 5 - 1 1 2
L I G H T H O U S E
Your word is a lamp to my feet
B Y
R E N D
C O L L E C T I V E
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord,
according to your word!
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the
joy of my heart .
I
incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
“Every time we open the Bible we are one Holy Spirit breath away from a fresh encounter with the living God” – Dr. Rob Reimer
This quote reminds us that the bible is not just an old book to read time and time again, but it’s a meeting place - a place where we experience the
guiding light of the Lord .
If we open ourselves up to the opportunity of God
working in our lives and we sit down with the Bible, we are bound to have powerful encounters with the author of this holy book.
In this unique season, we have a tool to help us navigate it. The word is our
light ,
our
truth ,
and our
helper .
I crave something consistent and true to hang
onto during this season, and my faith and walk with the Lord continue to be bolstered by looking into the word of God to
find my way forward.
What is a situation in your life where the Bible can be used as a tool to shed light upon something? What are steps you can take to prepare yourself to encounter the living God when reading the Bible?
BLESSI NGS
FOR
THE
DAY:
A Blessing for those who explain paperwork and technology to our refugee and immigrant neighbors: Creator of light, the blessing of light be upon us – the blessing of daylight, the blessing of sunlight, the blessing of Christ light. Scatter the darkness from before us that we may walk as children of light. (David Adam)
READING: F E A T U R E D
Friday I S A I A H
S ON G:
6 0
D A U G H T E R S
O F
Z I O N
B Y
P O R T E R S
G A T E
Arise, shine, for your light has come,and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
No matter how many Illinois winters I live through (which has been my entire life), I always seem to forget that the sun starts disappearing so much earlier in the day - it takes me by disheartening surprise each year. I look for every opportunity to create warmth around me. I open up my blinds; I go on walks when the sun is still out; I even got myself a lamp specifically meant to remind my body of the sun. As much as these things help, they are nothing like long summer days, and the yearning in my heart for summer each winter is visceral.
Isaiah reminds us about the day that will come when we no longer even need the sun, let alone substitutes like lamps. He declares that though we have seen great darkness, there is a
greater light
coming when Christ returns. On
that day, violence will end; on that day, all things broken will be made beautiful; on that day, God's glory will come upon his people. God promises us that because of Jesus, darkness will not have the last word -
Light has won .
So as summer comes to a close and winter is upon us, I am thankful for the yearning stirring in my heart for the long summer sun, as that yearning reminds me of an even greater yearning - waiting expectanly for the Lord to return and scatter the darkness.
How have you seen the Lord already begin the work of scattering the darkness in your life? How can you share with others the Light of Christ?
BLESSI NGS
FOR
THE
DAY:
A Blessing for those who financially partner with World Relief for the benefit of our refugee and immigrant neighbors:
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine upoin you and be gracious to you;
may the Lord turn his face to
you and to our neighbors, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
RECIPE
1:
VENEZUELAN
AREPAS
Arepas are a simple cornmeal cake made in Venezuela and other Latin American countries.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
3 cups warm water
1. Preheat oven to 350 & line baking sheet
1 heaping teaspoon sea salt 2 1/2 cups masarepa cornmeal
with parchment paper. 2. Add water & salt to mixing bowl. Slowly
2 tablespoons melted butter
whisk in masarepa and melted butter
Cooking oil
until a moldable dough forms. 3. Grab a handful of dough and form into a round ball. Repeat with all dough. 4. Press round dough balls into discs while oil heats in a pan. Fry for a few seconds on each side until lightly brown. 5. Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes. Enjoy!
RECIPE
2:
BURMESE
TEA
INGREDIENTS Salad 4 cups shredded green cabbage
½ cups roughly chopped cherry tomatoes ½ jalapeño or serrano chile, seeded and minced ¼ cup fried garlic ¼ cup coarsely chopped toasted peanuts ¼ cup fried yellow split peas 1
1 tablespoon fried garlic oil or canola oil 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 teaspoons fish sauce
½
cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons dried shrimp powder (optional)
¼
teaspoon crushed red pepper
LEAF
SALAD
I N S T R U C T I ON S 1. To prepare dressing: Steep tea leaves in hot water for 3 minutes. Drain and press excess water out of the tea leaves (you can drink the tea). Let cool to room temperature. 2. Combine the tea leaves, fresh garlic and salt in a mini food processor; pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in 3 tablespoons oil and vinegar. 3. To assemble salad: Make a bed of cabbage in a shallow bowl. Spoon the dressing into the center. Arrange piles of
Tea-Leaf Dressing
tomatoes, jalapeño (or serrano), fried
2 tablespoons loose green tea leaves, such as
garlic, peanuts and split peas around the
sencha or Dragonwell
dressing. Drizzle oil, lime juice and fish
2 cups very hot water (about 190 degrees F)
sauce over the top and sprinkle with
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
½
teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fried garlic oil (or canola oil) 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
cilantro, shrimp powder (if using) and crushed red pepper. Mix and enjoy!
Also consider ordering this at Pa Lian!
RECIPE
3:
EAST
AFRICAN
VITUMBUA
Vitumbua is a delicious and popular East African dessert made from coconut and rice.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Soak rice overnight and drain next day.
2 cups rice
2. Blend rice with coconut milk and coconut
1 can full fat coconut milk 2 tablespoons coconut flakes
flakes until smooth. 3. Pour mixture into a bowl, add yeast and
1 tablespoon yeast Sugar to taste
your desired amount of sugar and mix - the batter will be light and slightly runny in consistency. 4. Add some oil to your nonstick appam pan, be careful not to over fill and fry on medium heat. 5. Gently turn each one over and fry the other side until both sides are golden in color.
RECIPE
4:SIMPLE
CHAI
Chai is enjoyed around the world and is very simple to make at home, and customizable to taste!
INGREDIENTS 1-2 inches of ginger 3-5 cardamom pods 4-5 cups water
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Peel 1-2 inches of ginger root and slice into rings about a quarter of an inch thick. 2. Crack open 3-5 cardamom pods. 3. Place ginger and cardamom pods (and any
Cinnamon Sticks (optional) Star Anise (optional) Half & Half (to taste) Sweetener (to taste) 3-4 bags loose black tea leaves
optional flavor agents) in a pot and add 4-5 cups of water. Bring to boil and boil for 6-10 minutes to enhance the flavor. 4. Turn off the fire and add 3-4 bags of loose black tea leaves into the hot water. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. 5. Add half and half to your desired taste. 6. Sweeten to your taste preference and strain into a teapot or mug to enjoy!
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR VOLUNTEER STORY
TELL YOUR VOLUNTEER
STORY
What have been some of your favorite moments as a volunteer? Where have you seen Light at work in you and your
W H A T T H E
A R E
K E Y
T H A T
O F
immigrant and refugee friends? How
W O R D S
D E S C R I B E
Y O U R
do you want to continue bringing
V O L U N T E E R
S T O R Y ? W O R D S T O
S O M E
A
T H A T
M I N D
T H I N K
F E W C O M E
W H E N
O F
W E
O U R
V O L U N T E E R S
A R E :
H O P E - F I L L E D C R E A T I V E W I L L I N G
T O
L E A R N
D E D I C A T E D
W H A T Y O U
W O R D S U S E
D E S C R I B E J O U R N E Y
W O U L D
T O Y O U R A S
V O L U N T E E R ?
A
Light as a volunteer this year?
Again, thank you, Volunteers WE
CELERBATE
ARE
SO
THANKFUL
CONTINUE LIGHT
IN
YOU
TO
SHINING
THE
WITH
AND
A
DARKNESS
YOU!Â
JOIN US VIRTUALLY ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16TH AT 7PM TO CELEBRATE YOU AND ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER COHORTS!
R S V P T H E
A N Y
T O
R E C E I V E
Z O O M
L I N K
Q U E S T I O N S
A B O U T F R I D A Y E M A I L
T H E E V E N T ,
H O L L Y
A T
H T S E N G @ W R . O R G