Reprinted with permission by ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION Refugee Resource Group, Week 3 Presentation Reprinted with permission by

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION Prayer for Migrants  For all those who see “home” and all it means Disappear behind them; For all those who cannot see a home In the days ahead of them; For all those who dwell in Daily insecurity; For all those who are weary and Without a safe place to rest their heads; For all families in migration we pray.   May the image of the Holy Family Fleeing oppression stay with us as we enter a New Year, And stay with us each night as we are blessed With returning to a home. May we also be blessed With compassion for those Still weary, still seeking, Still with so far to go. Amen. [Source: Jane Deren, 2007]

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION “Follow Me.” Even though the story in Mark’s Gospel of Jesus calling some of his first disciples – [Simon, Andrew, James, and John] is short, we can imagine that Jesus was compelling – that his message, his presence, his call, "Follow me," was undeniable. Simon, Andrew, James, and John said "yes," and chose to follow Him. They made a sacrifice – leaving behind family, home, occupation, life as they knew it – and chose to follow Jesus down an unknown path. Sea of Galilee

When have you made a decision to follow? ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION “Follow Me.” When have you made a decision to follow? When have you stepped into the unknown on faith alone? What did it require of you? Take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. When have you made a decision to follow? When have you stepped into the unknown on faith alone? What did it require of you? When have you made a decision to follow? When have you stepped into the unknown on faith alone? [After short time of reflection] We can perhaps imagine what it might be like to choose to leave things behind and begin anew, to change your life and follow a calling. Many of us have even experienced it – the sacrifices you've made to go down a new path, to care for a loved one, to care for your family.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION Forced to flee For most of us, it is more difficult to imagine being forced to leave everything behind; to have no means by which to stay, no means of protection, no way to find safety in your own home, to sacrifice everything...to lose all agency and autonomy and be left with only one option - to flee for your life. A scene from Ai Weiwei’s Human Flow. http://www.humanflow.com/

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION Diocesan Refugee Resource Group Video The following video has been created by the diocesan Refugee Resource Team. We will watch the video and then ask a few questions.

How can a church and congregants support refugees in your areas? ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION Questions What hardships did Omar, Mariam and her daughter Khadijah share in common and what motivated them to overcome adversities? How did ALERT and the church in Bethlehem help to resettle refugees by welcoming them and meeting their ongoing needs? How can a church and congregants support refugees in your areas? Questions from the diocesan Refugee Resource Group video: What hardships did Omar, Mariam and her daughter Khadijah share in common and what motivated them to overcome adversities? How did ALERT and the church in Bethlehem help to resettle refugees by welcoming them and meeting their ongoing needs? How can a church and congregants support refugees in your areas?