“With that we face the shocking reality. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He asks for help in the form of a beggar, a down-and-out, a man in ragged clothes, someone who is sick, even a criminal in need of our love. He meets you in every person you encounter in need. So long as there are people around, Christ walks the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls to you, demands of you, makes claims upon you. That is the great seriousness of the Advent message and its great blessing. Christ stands at the door. He lives in the form of people around us. Will you therefore leave the door safely locked for your protection, or will you open the door for Him?
It may seem odd to us that we can see Jesus in so familiar a face. But that is what He said.
Whoever refuses to take seriously this clear Advent message cannot talk of the coming of Christ into his heart. Whoever has not learned from the coming of Christ that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, has not understood the meaning of His coming.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1929 Advent Sermon
In a press conference on Dec. 1, Pierre Pollievre, the Leader of the Opposition in Canada, is calling for a reduction in the number of refugees Canada welcomes. He said Canada should also cap the number of asylum seekers as it faces a significant influx in refugee claims. Canada had nearly 250,000 refugee claims in the queue as of Sept. 30, 2024, having approved more than 33,000 claims between January and the end of September.
In all of 2023, Canada accepted 37,000 refugee claims, and in 2022, it accepted 28,000. Today We pray for the mental health of those waiting to hear about their refugee claim.
Lord, While we wait for the Christchild in Advent, we join with those who wait to hear whether they can land in a safe place or not, whether they can stay in Canada or not. We pray for the stress in mind and body - that parents would be able to provide for their children in the waiting and children would be able to play and learn as every child should. We pray for the feelings of helplessness, frustration, alienation that can overwhelm. We pray for the needs to belong, to be known to be met in those who wait. We pray that those who follow Christ would follow him even here and meet these needs in our neighbors.
The Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, held a press conference on Monday, Dec. 2 to announce that the search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, two Indigenous women killed by convicted Winnipeg serial killer, has officially started at Prairie Green Landfill. After much debate and government hesitation over whether their remains would be searched for or not, then months of preparation and excavation to get to the target area in the landfil, the families still wait for closure about their loved ones. The premier said while there is no guarantee, they have now tried.
We pray for the families as they continue to wait.
Lord, these families wait for news. They know the worst has happened and still had to fight for the dignity of good closure. We pray for their minds and hearts to be protected and for the community around them to support them well. We pray that in the wait they know they are not alone.
While the UK is deliberating about Medical Assistance in Dying, we lift up those who are experiencing acute distress and illness.
Lord, it is agonizing to live in illness, knowing it is not going to be cured. The waiting for the end of life without knowing what it be like, how much pain there is, how much dignity we might lose. It is too much to bear and fear makes it intolerable. And yet we pray for your Spirit to comfort those living with advanced illness. We pray for perseverance to die well and for peace in their minds. We pray continually that those who are walking towards death's door to have holistic care that mitigates the pain. May you guide policy makers to just decisions and may life, even in dying, be honored by those who wait in these places.
On December 5 at 8pm EST, join Thrive and Exodus World Service for an informational webinar as we explain the new refugee resettlement opportunity for U.S churches called the Welcome Corps Program. We will break down the process and discuss how Exodus World Service is equipped to guide CRC churches and individuals interested in engaging in this faithful missional work of welcome. We will also cover all the steps to get started and answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Save the date! Register »
There are currently 224 CRC congregations across the U.S. and Canada that have at least one volunteer mentor actively involved in the Bible study correspondence ministry. Thrive is partnering with Crossroads to encourage more CRC support and involvement in this very unique and missional work. We have discipleship and faith formation resources available to deepen your understanding of sharing the hope of the Gospel, so you too can become a mentor to Crossroads students. Learn More »
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