But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. - Psalm 52:8
The Moria Refugee Camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, was built to hold 2,700 people as part of the European strategy from 2015 to hold the huge numbers of refugees and migrants pouring into its borders from moving northwards until they could be processed. This camp swelled and at the beginning of the pandemic held 12,000 people – roughly 8,000 adults and 4,000 children. The lockdown created even more untenable conditions and then late last week fires swept through the camp leaving thousands again displaced including hundreds of unaccompanied minors. These fires are yet another destructive symptom of broken systems and another obstacle to real people’s journeys to safety and meaningful family lives.
God, who stays in the fire and does not look away, We pray for solutions for this camp and the many like it, that bring real life. Move on policy makers to imagine new ways to help, to create lasting opportunities. Move on populations of host countries to stay open. Move in the camps to bring hope and peace, even in the midst. We beseech you God and say NO MORE to the damage, heartache, powerlessness that have being inflicted on journeying families in these camps.
With smoke blocking skies and filling lungs from northern to southern borders of America, with fires displacing thousands of people and destroying millions of acres of human and nature habitat, with leaders still denying responsibility, we are at a loss as to what to pray. The unprecedented devastation is gutting.
Tuesday, Sept 15 marked the 13th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The call for governments to fully reflect this declaration in legislation is still ongoing. So on this day we pray.
57 years ago a white supremacist terrorist attacked the 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham Alabama, killed 4 black girls as they were heading into church. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, were killed while many more were injured, to hinder and halt the work of integration and civil rights for Black Americans.
In a year when our culture’s conscience is speaking loudly on racial justice issues and we are confronted again with why it takes such heinous violence to get the attention of a nation, we mark this anniversary with a somber request.
As people of faith concerned about the impact climate change is having globally, we’re engaging with candidates running for public office through our voter-candidate forums. (We’re working on putting together forums in each of our regions so if you don’t see yours yet - check back soon!)
By selecting a topic, in this special action alert you’ll be able to provide direct feedback on the COVID-19 response affecting people who are vulnerable in your community. Contact your federal representative so we can make a greater impact for everyone - together.
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