Refugee Week

Portal Resources Social ResponsibilitiesRefugee Week

Refugee Week - ‘The Year of Welcome’

Refugee Week this year celebrates ‘The Year of Welcome’.

Each year around this time (14 June to 20 June), Australia celebrates Refugee Week as a way of honouring the contribution refugees make to our society. It is also a time to remember and reflect upon the often terrifying, dangerous and perilous journeys many refugees make before finding sanctuary in Australia.

Christian and other faith groups celebrate Refugee Sunday during this time as a day to focus our prayers, hearts and services in companionship with refugees and people seeking asylum. Our Church has a long history of supporting and offering sanctuary to refugees. Our faith teaches us to care for the stranger in our midst and we remember that Jesus and the Holy Family were refugees themselves.

We also have an opportunity to speak with a compassionate voice and dispel some of the fear and misunderstandings around refugees we may hear.

Resources

The Social Responsibilities Commission has created a Pew Sheet insert to help celebrate refugees in your parish, school or agency.

Suggested Hymns

Australian Hymn Book, Together in Song:

No 521 (Author, William H. Turton) Lord Christ, at your first Eucharist you prayed
No 629 (Author, Sydney Carter) When I needed a neighbour
No 681 (Author, Ross Langmead) Let me see.

Refugee Day at St Mark's Anglican Community School

Did you know that 37,000 people are forced to flee their homes every day? Or, that there are 29.5 million refugees registered with UNHCR, more than half of whom are children? Neither did we. So, as World Refugee Day approaches, some St Mark’s students got together to find out more about what it’s like to be a child refugee, and to write prayers which our community can use to pray for refugees and for us, as we seek to be a welcoming, loving community.

Rowena McMiking, Middle School Chaplain

We started by brainstorming, “What is life like for a child who is a refugee?” Then, we generated lots of ways we’d like to pray for refugees.

Dear Heavenly Father, who cares for us all when times are tough: we pray that refugees would find safety and that facilities will be provided for all their needs; through Jesus Christ who helps, guides and loves us. Amen.

For the rest of this story and more prayers: www.socialjustice.perth.anglican.org/refugee-week.html

A Prayer for Refugees

Almighty and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee
and had no place to call his own;
look with mercy on those who today
are fleeing from danger,
homeless and hungry.

Bless those who work to bring them relief;
inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts;
and guide the nations of the world towards that day
when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers from Students at St Mark's Anglican Community School

Heavenly Father, who sent the Son who will guide us to heaven: we thank you for caring for us and loving us. We pray that you will help the refugees to find a new home. We are sorry for sometimes not seeing the refugees as equals to us. Help us to see that they are. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and loving friend, Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father, who cares for us all when times are tough: we pray that refugees would find safety and that facilities will be provided for all their needs; through Jesus Christ who helps, guides and loves us. Amen.

Gracious God, who loves refugees and cares for them: give us the same compassion for displaced people as you have shown, so that we might be your hands and feet, providing shelter, food, education and care to those in need, and they might know your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who welcomes all who turn to him. Amen.

Loving God, who sent your Son into the world to give his life that we might live: give those who seek refuge a warm welcome among us, that our community might better reflect the heavenly community where people from every tribe and nation will be gathered around the throne giving glory to the Lamb; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
Almighty God, who created all things and sovereignly sustains the universe: please provide good access to medical care and hygiene resources for displaced people everywhere, that they may enjoy life free from the threat of disease. Please protect refugee camps from the spread of COVID19. We pray in the name of Jesus, who gave sight to the blind, healing to the sick and raised the dead, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Authors: Ashlyn, Georgia, Riley, Ruby, Imogen, Hannah and Rowena McMicking

Recipes

As part of Refugee Week, Refugee Ambassadors from around the world are sharing delicious recipes from their homes. Here is one. For more recipes go here: http://bit.ly/rwrecipe

Mahalabia (a dessert from Iraq)

Ingredients

900 grams plain flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp yeast

Instructions

In a bowl, combine cornflour and 3 Tbs fresh milk. Stir until mixture forms a paste.
In a heavy-based saucepan, place cornflour paste, fresh milk, evaporated milk and sugar. Stir until well combined.
Over medium heat, bring mixture to the boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for ten minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture gains the consistency of thick custard. Take care to ensure the milk doesn’t stick to the saucepan.
Remove mixture from heat. Stir in cardamom and rose water, orange water or vanilla extract.
Pour into small dishes or cups, then place in the fridge for at least three hours. If you plan to leave them any longer, cover each dish with plastic wrap or similar.
Combine rose syrup & water, then drizzle over each dessert. Sprinkle with pistachios or almonds.

Taking Action: A Response to COVID-19 for People Seeking Asylum and Refugees

The Anglican Fifth Mark of Mission reminds us that as Christians we are called to transform unjust structures of society.

The Australian response to the COVID-19 pandemic has taken into account the effects on our health, economic and social systems. Refugees and people seeking asylum under Australia’s care, however, seem to have been forgotten. Thousands of people seeking asylum have no Medicare access and limited social security. Many people seeking asylum housed in Australia’s immigration centres have significant health risks. Any outbreak of COVID-19 in these centres would prove disastrous .

Personal letter writing to Members of Parliament is a useful advocacy tool for justice. You are invited to join us in writing letters to your MP and State Senators to express your concerns on this matter.