Church Service

Packet

Contents

Bulletin Announcements……..………………………..………1

Guest Speakers……..………………………………..…….……...3

Syrian Fact Sheet…………………………………………….…….4

Litany…………………………………..………………….…………….5

Affirmations………………………...……………….………………6

Suggested Scripture Readings………………………….……7

Take Action……………………………………………………………8

Additional Resources…………………………………………..9

Dear Church Leaders, On behalf of the refugees and displaced communities, thank you for your participation in raising awareness and mobilizing The Church! Tucson Refugee Ministry is here to serve you and help engage, equip and mobilize your congregation. Today, there are people fleeing their homes and cities seeking safe havens every second. Around the world, more than 59 million people have been forcibly displaced. Persecution and terror have forced these refugees and internally displaced persons to flee, leaving everything behind. They have lost family members, friends, possessions and the familiar places of their homeland.

Tucson will become home to approximately 1,000 of these refugees each year!

Now is the time to raise awareness about refugees around the world and mobilize your church to be a key agent of hope and compassion internationally and here in Tucson. We invite you and your church to remember those who are persecuted and oppressed around the world and to reach out to the nations at our doorstep!

Sincerely,

Cherie L. Gray

REFUGEE

One who is forced to flee their country

because they have been persecuted for

reasons of race, religion, nationality,

political opinion or membership of a

particular social group.

Bulletin Announcements

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Tucson welcomes nearly 1000 new

refugees every year.

Many have harrowing stories of

surviving imprisonment, torture, near

starvation, the death of many

relatives and friends, and enormous

personal loss.

They arrive in America with all their

earthly belongings contained in two

suitcases, prepared to begin a new

life in “the land of opportunities”.

They encounter many challenges.

Their greatest felt need is for genuine

friendship, and their hearts are

uniquely receptive to God’s love.

You can now touch the nations

without leaving your city!!

You’re Invited to

Share God’s Love with

The Nations in Our Own Neighborhood!

Ministry Opportunities

Welcome Partnership: A three-way partnership between your church group, resettlement agency and

TRM to embrace one refugee family for three months. Special Events: Volunteer at a family-friendly special event and be the fragrance of Christ in refugee

communities.

Rapid Response: Respond to the refugee crisis NOW and make a difference. Become a member of our Rapid Response Team, receive weekly emails with one-time needs, and respond to aid refugees

(and agencies) in our city. Airport Welcome: Church groups can register to be a "welcoming church” for a day or a week and greet newly arriving refugee families at the airport with signs and cheers and fanfare.

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bei

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par

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to w

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Refugee Info Meeting

Refugee Info Meeting

Tucson welcomes nearly 1000 new

refugees every year.

Many have harrowing stories of

surviving imprisonment, torture, near

starvation, the death of many relatives

and friends, and enormous personal

loss.

They arrive in America with all their

earthly belongings contained in two

suitcases, prepared to begin a new

life in “the land of opportunities”.

They encounter many challenges.

Their greatest felt need is for genuine

friendship, and their hearts are

uniquely receptive to God’s love.

You can now touch the nations

without leaving your city!!

Contact:

Cherie Gray

You’re Invited to

Share God’s Love with

The Nations in Our Own Neighborhood!

Ministry Opportunities

Welcome Partnership: A three-way partnership between your church group, resettlement agency and TRM to embrace one refugee family for three months.

Special Events: Volunteer at a family-friendly special event and be the fragrance of Christ in

refugee communities. Rapid Response: Respond to the refugee crisis NOW and make a difference. Become a member of

our Rapid Response Team, receive weekly emails with one-time needs, and respond to aid refugees

(and agencies) in our city. Airport Welcome: Church groups can register to be a "welcoming church” for a day or a week and

greet newly arriving refugee families at the airport with signs and cheers and fanfare.

Guest Speakers

4

Guest Speakers

Another way pastors and local church leaders can better inform their congregations about refugee realities and our biblical mandate to love and welcome the foreigner, is by inviting a guest speaker

with expertise concerning these issues.

Tucson Refugee Ministry can help arrange for any of the following guest speakers to come to your church:

1. Invite a refugee to come and share his or her own personal story

2. Invite a volunteer who works with refugees to come and share his or her

experiences and interactions with refugees here in Tucson

3. Invite a TRM representative to do a presentation about a refugee’s journey and

how to build bridges with our refugee neighbors

Please contact TRM at cherie@tucsonrefugeeministry.com if you are interested and we will coordinate the speakers for you.

mailto:cherie@tucsonrefugeeministry.com

Syrian Fact Sheet

5

The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Did you know…

Over 4 million Syrians have fled their country since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, making Syria the largest current producer of refugees in the world.

The vast majority of Syrian refugees are being hosted by neighboring countries, putting an enormous strain on the resources of smaller nations such as Lebanon and Jordan.

As a result of their inability to provide and their concern for security, many Syrian refugee parents are now choosing to arrange early marriages for their teenage daughters. The most common age range for marriage of Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon is 12-15 years.

UNHCR’s data show that 50.5 percent of refugees are women, and children 11 years old and younger account for 38.5 percent.

Less than 1% of refugees around the world are selected for resettlement. Of that 1%, about two-thirds go to the United States.

Refugees are the most highly vetted immigrants to enter the United States. They must pass a detailed, intensive screening process that takes a minimum of 18-24 months before being approved for resettlement in the U.S.

In 2015, less than 4% of refugees resettled in the U.S. were Syrians. In 2016, less than 12% of the refugees resettled in the U.S. are projected to be Syrians, despite the fact that Syrians now comprise the highest refugee population worldwide.

Litany

6

Litany for World Refugee Month

Leader: Mighty Lord, as you guided the Israelites through the wilderness People: be a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day for refugees in search of new hope and new life. Leader: As you brought the Israelites out of bondage to freedom, People: bring refugees out of persecution to safety. Leader: As you protected the Israelites through 40 years in the desert, People: protect those who languish for years in refugee camps. Leader: Wipe away their tears of sorrow, People: that their mourning will give way to joyous hope. Leader: Put an end to warfare and tyranny, People: that some may return home without fear of violence. Leader: Open the doors of safer nations, People: that some may find new homes in new lands. Leader: Rebuild their lives, People: that they might enjoy the fruit of labors in peace. Leader: Restore their material goods, People: that they might sustain their families in prosperity. Leader: Revive their hope, People: that they might face a future with promise. Leader: Surround all refugees with your heavenly host, People: that they might know your protecting power. Leader: Sustain them with your love, People: that they might feel the warm embrace of welcome. Leader: Strengthen their bonds of friendship and family, People: that they might serve one another with encouraging love. Leader: And inspire your churches to welcome the stranger, People: that together we might build communities of hope where strangers become neighbors and friends, and brothers and sisters. All: Amen!

Affirmations

7

Affirmations

Together with other people of faith, and all followers of Jesus, I affirm: I will welcome the stranger.

My faith teaches that compassion, mercy, love and hospitality are for everyone: the native born

and the foreign born, the member of my community and the newcomer.

I will remind members of my community that we are all considered “strangers” somewhere, that we should treat the stranger to our community as we would like to be treated.

I recognize that all persons are entitled to dignity and respect as human beings and in all

circumstances.

I will respect the freedom of strangers who may be of a different faith or hold beliefs different from mine.

I will speak of my own faith and give witness as to what God has done, without demeaning or

ridiculing the faith of others.

I will endeavor to build understanding and make an effort to listen to him or her deeply, and promote harmony and peace. I will increase my knowledge, seek understanding, and pray for

them.

I will speak out for justice on all levels and for all people in America. I will ask God’s wisdom in connecting my head and heart, and I will work for change and compassion along with justice

for all.

I will not ignore wrong-doing, words and acts of hatred, but will instead endeavor to establish a dialogue and facilitate peace.

I will encourage my faith community to work with other faith communities to find better ways to

assist in peace-building in our city.

SIGNATURE_________________________________________________

Suggested Scripture

Readings

8

Suggested Scripture Readings

• Genesis 21: 8-21

The three visitors

• Genesis 28:10-17

Jacob's dream at Bethel

• Exodus 23: 1-9

Laws of justice and mercy

• Ruth 1: 16-22

Ruth and Naomi leave Moab and travel to Bethlehem

• Psalm 137: -

Lament of the exiles who were taken to Babylon

• Lamentations 5: 1-15, 19-22

For a fresh start

• Micah 4: 1-7

The mountain of the Lord

• Matthew 2: 13-15

Jesus as refugee

• Matthew 25: 31-46

The parable of the sheep and the goats

• Luke 10: 25-37

The parable of the Good Samaritan

Refugee Highway Partnership

Take Action

9

TAKE ACTION!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1. Donate unneeded household goods or

EASY STEPS THAT

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1. Donate unneeded household goods

or furniture to a refugee agency.

2. Post an article relating to refugees

to your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

3. Invite your friends and neighbors

to watch a film relating to refugees

and engage in a discussion afterwards.

4. Ask your child’s school to include

curriculum related to refugees.

5. Donate funds to the local agencies

and/or ministries who are serving

refugees.

6. Contact your local senator or

representative to encourage them to

increase assistance to resettled

refugees.

7. Adopt a refugee resettlement

agencies in your city and bless them

(cookies for the staff, notes of

encouragement, offer to pray, etc.)

8. Volunteer to help set up an

apartment for a soon-to-arrive

refugee family.

9. Form a welcome team and greet a

newly arriving refugee family at the

airport!

10. Pray for refugee families as they

begin their new life in America and

pray for God to raise up Christian

believers to literally welcome

strangers.

Most of the commands

Jesus gave us in the

Scriptures cannot be

accomplished in a church

building.

Additional Resources

10

Media Resources:

https://vimeo.com/24886084

A 60 second look at some biblical texts related to forcible displacement set to music without

commentary.

https://vimeo.com/141460217

A refugee pastor describes life in a refugee camp - and how refugee churches are helping

people transcend their circumstances.

https://vimeo.com/132997834

An introduction to the Refugee Highway

https://vimeo.com/61831695

Former refugees from Iran and Ivory Coast share how valuable it is for us to take time and

initiative to pray for and with refugees.

https://vimeo.com/17651246

A beautiful song with photos that remembers the forcibly displaced people in the world

Information and Additional Resources:

www.wewelcomerefugees.com

www.iafr.org

www.refugeehighway.net

www.tucsonrefugeeministry.com

Refugee Vetting Process Info:

FAQ's

Screening Process Infographic

https://vimeo.com/24886084https://vimeo.com/141460217https://vimeo.com/132997834https://vimeo.com/61831695https://vimeo.com/17651246http://www.wewelcomerefugees.com/http://www.iafr.org/http://www.refugeehighway.net/http://www.tucsonrefugeeministry.com/../Desktop/Refugee%20Realities%20FAQ.pdfhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/20/infographic-screening-process-refugee-entry-united-stateshttps://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/20/infographic-screening-process-refugee-entry-united-states

BUILDING A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CHURCH

AND THE NATIONS AT OUR DOORSTEP