God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says— he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners— he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. - Psalm 146:5
78 migrants are known to have died with 500 still missing when a ship carrying migrants sank off the coast of Greece. The ship’s crew has been arrested for causing the disaster, people smuggling and other offences. This tragedy has links to Pakistan where arrests have been made there for people smuggling those on board this ship as well.
We pray for the disaster and for light to come into the darkness
God we pray that the deeds done under the cover of night would be brought to light. We pray so that families can have closure and justice. We pray so that these kinds of disasters and deaths would cease. We pray for the families of those missing or killed, that they would know comfort and peace in the name of Jesus.
More than a dozen companies, mainly from Saudi Arabia, are bidding for two million tonnes of carbon credits at an auction in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi this week. The credits are being generated mostly by environmental projects in Africa. This auction in Nairobi lets wealthy corporations buy carbon offsets to meet their emissions targets but critics call attention to the true effectiveness of the projects and the reality that the wealthier a company, the less they have to actually change their emissions output – they can just buy their way forward without meaningful change.
So we pray around this:
Lord,
Money has always insulated from needing to make real change – that is until hearts are changed. So we pray for heart transformations in the desires of heads of companies and their shareholders to truly want to change – for the sake of neighbors.
We pray that real emissions solutions are utilized and that changes in how we work and what brings value will bring a healthier, sustainable future for the planet.
This decision firmly shuts the door on anyone trying to seek asylum in Canada if they are coming from the United States. Refugee advocates say that some vulnerable populations are however not safe in the United States and this will cause people to try to come into Canada using increasingly unsafe means such as people smuggling.
A prayer to keep welcoming
Lord we have prayed that our communities would be known for their welcome as you have commanded us. It feels like there is no power to make change when decisions are made so high up. But we know you are as invested in the lives of the least seen and most forgotten far more than you are invested in preserving power. So as your body, help us to truly see and never forget those who are looking for safe passage and for a safe place to call home and help us not stop advocating for it even in places of power.
An Isis connected militia has attacked a secondary school in Uganda killing over 40 students and staff and kidnapping 6. The bodies remaining are not recognizable to parents and loved ones so dna identification has to be used.
We pray for your healing Spirit to be at work in this community. We pray for the perpetrators to repent and walk in different ways, bringing life back to those kidnapped. We pray for the victims for good counselling and support to heal. We pray for the families to be comforted. We pray for the enemies use of terror to cease, in the name of Jesus.
June 20th, marks World Refugee Day—an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the strength and courage of all of those around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to varying reasons of threat. It also is a critical day for collective action, advocating alongside those who have been or hope to be resettled in the United States. Amidst crises and conflicts in places such as Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Sudan, now more than ever we must encourage Congress to invest in our capacity to welcome refugees.
If you or your church want to learn more about continued and faithful welcome of refugees, check out our World Refugee Day Toolkit. This toolkit contains worship resources and many stories of CRC church members across North America who have resettled refugees.
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