Jericho Prayer in Washington DC
Dear God, you are a God of love and you call us to love and to take care of each other so that we can build a society of love, peace and justice.
In this country founded on principles of liberty and justice, millions of our brothers and sisters live under unfair laws that discriminate against them. Millions of our families are divided and separated. Parents and loved ones are deported. Every day, millions of people suffer the pain and anguish of not being able to live in dignity.
This is why we come before you today, in this place of our government, to lead them to their humanity, the love of each other, the love of the stranger and compassion for all as we behold the symbols of the wall of injustice that divides us all.
We know that you are a fair God and that you have listened to our prayers. We know that, in the fullness of time, you will bring down these walls of injustice. We know that you will help us to soften the hearts of our government, politicians and all people so that, very soon, we can have a new immigration law that protects the dignity of all.
We pray you will Give us all the Right to Remain in Justice and in Truth. Amen
Jericho Walk in Washington DC
The Jericho Walk is a walk of faith led by the New Sanctuary Faith Leaders, their congregants and their allies to highlight and bring attention to an immoral detention and deportation system. The present immigration policy is inhumane and unjust, with millions of people living in fear and hundreds of thousands deported.
This is a weekly vigil in New York City where we walk around the federal immigration building seven times, praying in silence for the right to remain with our families and communities.
On Thursday May 16 we will be in the Hart Senate Building in Washington, DC to pray, witness and to let them know that we are present as faith leaders, congregants, citizens and immigrants while the Judiciary Committee considers our fate. We will share and say a unity prayer during the walk to tear down the walls of injustice that separate us from a fair and humane immigration policy.
WHERE: Lutheran Church of the Reformation – 11:00am
: 212 East Capitol Street, Washington DC, 11:00 — gathering and logistics
: Hart Senate Building – 12:00 pm Jericho Walk
WHEN: Thursday May 16th 2013
JOIN US AS WE HEED THE CALL TO WELCOME THE STRANGER, TO PURSUE JUSTICE, AND TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR ALL WHO LIVE AMONGST US.
If you cannot join us physically,
Pray with us as we walk from 12:00 – 1:30
GIVE US ALL THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN JUSTICE AND IN TRUTH
Endorsers: Casa de Maryland, Center for Community Change, Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Detention Watch Network. Building the World House
For more information contact: Ravi Ragbir at ravi@newsanctuarynyc.org or 347-651-0001.
2013 Prayer for our Resolutions
The end of the year is here and we have our rituals, proposals, resolutions, promises, projects, etc. in order to receive things for this New Year. We expect to have abundance, health, wealth, peace, and love among many other things for the coming year.
But friend do not forget that life is a gift, a gift from God. With its joys and sorrows, and with its struggles and blessings. Let’s prepare to bid farewell to 2012 a year that God has given us in His infinite love and to be very, very happy and thankful for 2013.
New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City resolutions for 2013 are:
Love conquers all.
Love has no borders.
We are all of one family.
Family is important.
Children are precious.
We can take care of each other.
I am your friend.
Helping another is our tradition.
Fear is the darkness within us – let’s fill each other with the light of love.
Talking is not an abstract concept – we can do it.
Remember our history and past.
Know the seeds we plant today are going to be reaped by our children and children’s children.
We are all equal.
Justice for all.
Right to Remain for all.
Dignity for all.
Freedom not for one but all.
No human being is “illegal” – drop the “i” word and value human dignity.
All who come to our shores recieve fair and humane treatment- reform the detention and deportation system.
Uphold civil rights- end racial profiling and intentional discrimination.
The freedom to seek employment to feed our families – global migration
Fight for justice for all in 2013.
We are taking our above resolutions to pray for that each will manifest and urge you to do the same. (Send us your resolution?) Our prayer is below.
Prayer to give thanks for the end of the year
Lord God, Lord of all eternity,
You are the same today and tomorrow, the past and the future.
At the end of this year 2012, we wish to thank
for all that we have received from you.
Thank you for life and love,
which would not have been possible without you
Here as we did in the previous months
we will meet people along this year that we will love
and those that we do not love as much
and we are charged with the task to learn to love and forgive all.
Fill us with kindness and joy in our lives
so that we can live together and you will be with us
whenever we meet anyone in our lives.
In your light, love and peace that only You can give.
Thank you Lord for this past year, thanks!
And prepare us to receive the New Year 2013 that comes with a lot of joy and love.
Lord, we love you and in you we trust.
amen
Indonesians in Sanctuary fight for their Freedom
Praying and Singing to
Keep Indonesian Families Together
A Night of food, speeches, song & prayer
When: Tuesday December 4th 2012, 7pm – 10pm
Where: Reformed Church of Highland Park, Highland Park NJ: http://goo.gl/maps/I6LlV
_________________________________________________________________
Dear Friends Who Support Our Indonesian Brothers In Sanctuary, Their Families, and All Indonesians with Unresolved Immigration Committee,
The last time we planned an event to push for the freedom of our Indonesian brothers in Sanctuary was the day after Hurricane Sandy, and a week before the re-election of the President. We had planned to be fairly critical of President Obama and of ICE for their refusal to assist us with our dilemma. We had every reason to feel that way, as this community that we love and have walked with has suffered so greatly. However, maybe it was fortuitous that our efforts were delayed. It seems that the tide is turning (maybe for real this time) and that immigration reform is suddenly a thing of real possibility. Republican Senators and House members who have never spoken openly in support of immigration reform are coming out of the woodwork.
However, until things are resolved, we cannot let up highlighting the fact that for 270 days we have had to offer Sanctuary to numerous people, including the Dads of 7 U.S. Citizen Children, in order to keep our government from deporting them to the country they left in fear in the late 90′s. We have engaged in a rather extreme form of Non-Violent Resistance-Sanctuary-because we have felt the government left us with no other choice.
We cannot let up in our insistence that these Indonesian immigrants and families be shown the same mercy now that the Obama Administration showed them in 2009, when it stopped deporting Indonesians in New Jersey (and in a couple of other states) and instead offered Orders of Supervision.
On December 4th , at 7pm, we will have an event called:
Praying and Singing to
Keep Indonesian Families Together
A Night of food, speeches, song & prayer
We are hoping to get a huge turnout from the community that has rallied, called, visited and stood up for these friends in such dramatic ways since we started our efforts with a vigil 1 year ago this week.
We are inviting guests from political offices, faith leaders and the media. We hope to show all of them how serious we are that these individuals be shown mercy.
Also, we will use the event on December 4th to begin connecting the struggle of the Indonesian community to the larger struggle of immigrants across this nation (to keep families together, stand by US citizen children). Our story is unique, and we will continue to highlight its uniqueness, but there may be ways for us to more fully add our voices to the groundswell of voices pushing for comprehensive immigration reform as well.
Please come and join us. We will make sure that you leave thankful, inspired and ready to reengage in this work until justice and peace embrace!
Below is an email I recently sent to Indonesians who benefited from the Orders of Supervision Program that we set up with ICE during happier times…I encourage you to consider some of the ‘asks’ I make to them in order to help us continue this effort.
Peace, Pastor Seth
Dear Indonesian Community That Participated in the Orders of Supervision Program,
I am writing to you today to touch base. It’s been many months since we were all together in one place. I would like for you to consider, for a moment, the situation we were in 1 year ago. 1 year ago most of you had been told to bring tickets to your December report date and self-deport. After meeting and praying and communicating with Washington and with the local office, many of you were able to resolve your situations. For that we say PRAISE GOD! 47 of you were given Stays of Removal without too much trouble…and another 5 or so have received them in recent months.
There are others, however, who were not so fortunate. The system is very broken still. 15 of the 76 people who met with us last December 1st for our 24 Hour Vigil have been deported or self-deported out of fear of being detained.
And then, there are 9 or so who are either in SANCTUARY or are living in the community in fear of being picked up each and every day. The Reformed Church of Highland Park has stuck by these 9 tirelessly, providing housing, providing financial support as best we can and by tirelessly advocating for them and for ALL OF YOU.
Until Immigration Reformed passes all of you who do not have Green Cards are benefiting from total advocacy on our part, and you are benefiting from the Leadership of those in Sanctuary.
I want to ask two things from you today.
1) Please come to a 7pm-10pm Advent Prayer and Celebration About Keeping Families Together on Tuesday Night, December 4th. Please come ready to SING. We want to hear songs of God’s love and protection and deliverance!
2) Please send a financial contribution (if able) to the Reformed Church of Highland Park Immigration Fund. For those who are living in Sanctuary, many are still paying rent, paying mortgages and trying to afford the things that their children need. For those who have been fortunate enough to work this year, please consider giving to the Immigration Fund. EVERY PENNY YOU GIVE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILIES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SANCTUARY, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE THE LEAD IN STRUGGLING FOR GOD’S LOVE AND PEACE TO REIGN IN THIS SITUATION. Your donations are tax exempt, as they are part of our mission offering.
Grace to you and peace this Advent. Please remember our efforts on your behalf, and especially remember our brothers in Sanctuary, and their families.
Please call me if you have any questions. 732-882-3193
Pastor Seth
Solidarity Festival
We have all been touched in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. Some of us have lost work, electrical power, and food but a lot of our brothers and sisters have lost everything including their homes.
Join the Sion Church, the Trinity Lutheran Church and the New Sanctuary Coalition as we come together in a Solidarity Festival to help those in need. We will be having music from 1pm to 6pm to fellowship and unite throughout these difficult times.
Where: 164 West 100th Street, New York, NY 10025.
When: Saturday Nov 10th.
1pm – 6pm
Admission: Blankets, candles, flashlights, lights, water, food, batteries, diapers, wipes, gloves, masks, rubber boots, shovels, cleaning supplies, bleach, trash bags, serving dishes and utensils, only winter wear (jackets, hats, gloves, warm stuff). Please note that a lot of clothes have already being donated and people need everyday household stuff like toothbrush, toothpaste, diapers, wipes, shampoo, sternos to keep food warm, medicine like nyquil, benadyl, cough syrup, aspirin, etc, paper towels etc.
We are not accepting cash donations.
For more information call (646) 245 4404 or 718 300 0599.
Directions: Between Amsterdam and Columbus Aves. Take the A,C,1,2,3 and B.
Message from our Father Fabian Arias
Very good morning to all:
I hope everyone is well. Yesterday I was communicating with you via facebook, texting or phone and you informed me that you were well and had no major problems.
Many are without electricity in their homes and cannot get to jobs because the public transportation system is down. The damage caused by the FrankenStorm Sandy on many roads and public transportation throughout the city were absolutely devastating. Hundreds of thousands of people in the five boroughs of New York, Long Island and New Jersey are without power. Many of our brothers are without power right now.
Clearly there is much work ahead. The mayor said this morning that it could take several days to fully restore all underground services for all New Yorkers.
The mayor of this city is instructing New Yorkers who want to volunteer or needs more information to go nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov or visit their Facebook page. Also remember to dial 311 to report fallen trees and other problems that are discovered.
Friends, let’s unite and pray together for those who were severely affected by this hurricane to strengthen them in this difficult time as they work to bring order back into their lives. For those of us who fortunately did not suffer we need to be attentive to needs of the many who lost so much. And that God, in his eternal love will care and protect us in this moment.
Note: Friends, if you need any help or information, please do not hesitate to contact me at: 646-244 5404 anytime or for anything.
A hug and God bless you all!
I love you Fabian.
_________________________________________________________________
Muy buenos días a todos:
Espero que todos estén muy bien. Al comunicarme durante el día de ayer con la mayoría de todos ustedes por este medio, facebook, tex o por teléfono, me fueron informando que están bien y no hubo grandes problemas.
Muchos están sin luz y son afectados por la transportación trayendo todo esto consecuencias en las casas y para sus trabajos. Los daños que causó en muchas carreteras y en los medios de transportación a través de la ciudad como consecuencia de Sandy fueron absolutamente devastadores. Son cientos de miles de personas en los cinco condados de New York, Long Island y New Jersey que están sin electricidad. Muchos hermanos nuestros estan sin luz en estos momentos.
Es evidente que hay mucho trabajo por delante. El alcalde ha dicho esta mañana que podría tomar varios días para restaurar completamente todos los servicios de metro para todos los neoyorquinos.
La Alcaldía de esta ciudad está instruyendo a los neoyorquinos que quieren ser voluntarios. Aquellos que quieran más información sobre esto entren a: nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov o visite su página de Facebook.
Recuerden también que marcando el 311 puede informar sobre árboles caídos y otros inconvenientes que vayan descubriendo.
Amigos, sigamos orando juntos y unidos para que aquellos que fueron gravemente afectados por este huracán para que pronto puedan volver al orden que tenían en sus vidas y fortalécelos en estos difíciles momentos. A los que providentemente no sufrimos nada, estemos atentos a las necesidades de muchos que tanto necesitan. Y que Dios, en su eterno amor nos cuide y proteja en todo momento.
Nota: Amigos, cualquier necesidad o ayuda o información que necesiten, por favor no duden en llamarme al:646-2445404 en cualquier momento que sea.
Un abrazo y Dios los bendiga a todos!!
Los quiero mucho Fabián.
Michelle’s Jericho Walk
Michelle is a community minister at Judson Memorial Church participated in our weekly Jericho Walk. Her thoughts are given below.
I came to the Jericho Walk a little bit excited, not knowing what to expect or who to expect, but feeling already that what we were about to do was important. I chose the immigration program at Judson because I felt very strongly about the issue, not from personal or family experience, but from exposure, I guess you could say. I worked with illegal immigrants during college on a local farm for the first time, and I saw how they lived and how they were treated. They were such an invisible population in Ohio, and yet they were everywhere. Then more recently, I went with a friend to deliver clothes and blankets to migrant workers, many of whom were illegal. When we took donations, we couldn’t mention their legal status in our very conservative church because people may not donate to illegals. It was everything we could do to get them to donate to legal migrant workers. But the illegal immigrants had incredible stories, and lived every moment of their lives in jeopardy — not only of deportation, but of illness. They went without medical care because they had no insurance and, of course, no documentation, so they felt they couldn’t risk it. Their survival was at risk, because they made so little money, were trying to support family in Mexico and came, often, with nothing.
So I didn’t know the stories of anyone going into 26 Federal Plaza that day — maybe their stories were nothing like the destitute migrant workers I knew about — but I knew the issue has become charged politically, and with that have come unreasonable and hostile laws followed by prejudice and that has resulted in a lot of fear among immigrants, and I am interested in that as much as a white native-born American facing no risk of deportation can be. Which is more interested than you’d think. I am committed to helping our country become more like it thinks it is, or, in other words, better at achieving its ideals as a free, generous and moral nation; a beautiful, diverse melting pot that guards human and civil rights. It isn’t. Every “right” granted has been fought for, tooth and nail, even for those born here. Or, prayed for. But never magnanimously given.
Now the walk was in its own way a beautiful thing, because of both the solemnity of the ritual and the location of it — the center of NYC, which seems like the center of the center — with people everywhere in need of our services, our prayers. Being Catholic by nature, I am a big fan of kneeling so approved of that; the prayer was perfect and seven times around that enormous city block, good heavens, that required some commitment. As I walked, I thought about who I was praying for — the people and the families, of course. But then I saw this white woman on the corner who looked slick, lawyer-like, and I thought, “Well, she’s got some power.” I thought about how small her window for compassion might be, when you consider what vies for its attention: ambition, money, status, family, a personal life. Five things that might come before compassion for the people in desperate need, even if she is, at heart, a decent person. When your own needs are met, others’ needs do not seem that urgent. You often say, “We’ll see what we can do,” when the person in need has no more time. So, I prayed for all those people in power, that their hearts would be moved, softened in unexpected ways as they dealt with those who weren’t.
