Remembering & Celebrating

Refugee and Migrant Sunday is a celebration of the contribution refugees and migrants make to Australia and the needs and hopes of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants worldwide. It is celebrated by the Churches together on or around the last Sunday of August each year.

Seven years and $7.6 billion later, new data compiled by the Refugee Council shows hundreds are still suffering as a result of offshore detention. Three in ten Australians (29.7%) were born overseas according to the latest ABS migration data. Australia is now home to 25.6 million residents, 7.5 million of which were born overseas revealing that our nation is really a global epicentre of cultural diversity. Immigration, particularly from the majority of the world, is producing demographic change within the Australian Christian community and the Australian Church. We are enriched and strengthened by migrant participation.
Rev Dr Paul Goh,
Justice & CALD Multicultural & Cross Cultural CMC Officer, Mission Resourcing, UCA

Scripture

Romans 12:1-8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritualworship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Prayer of Intercession

Healing Spirit,

Fill our hearts with love for those who are unloved, forgotten, disposed, alone.

Let your flame of fiery presence melt the hearts chilled with fear and distrust.

Sprout new seeds of hope in the desert places of dusty souls.

Cool the fierce hate that scars thoughts of the powerful.

Fill empty vessels of self-worth with purpose to serve victims and vulnerable.

Voice the silent cries of those who are spent, and can no longer manage alone.

Silent prayer for your local community migrants and refugees, their needs and support

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.

Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Silent prayer for the state-wide communities of migrants and refugees, to be alert and responsive to the critical care and need, for the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing of those who come with such practical need and who are often emotionally spent.

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.

Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Silent prayer for the national bodies assisting migrants and refugees, Government programs and decisions that are life changing for people who have already suffered much

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.

Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Silent prayer for our country’s public voice and action for migrants and refugees across the world.

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.

Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Inflame our hearts with your unconditional love,

That our active presence makes a difference in changing values,

Approach, decisions and the living reality for these, our sisters and brothers. Amen

Rev Anne Hewitt