September 9, 2018
Preparations for God’s Work. Our Hands. continue as we move closer to this annual fall kick-off event. This year, God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday will be on September 9. The event will be held on-site at Messiah between 9:15 am and 10:45 am. There will be a follow-up opportunity at a community garden in Kent from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Saturday, September 15.
There are a number of exciting opportunities in which members and friends of Messiah may participate. The focus this year will be on the experience of refugees and immigrants. We are looking to partner with World Relief Seattle, a local nonprofit which has been working alongside refugees and immigrants since 1979. Welcoming, supporting, and creating the possibility to thrive is what World Relief does for newcomers to the United States.
What we will be doing on September 9? Here is a teaser of the activities:
- Do a Loss Simulation. We will plan to run it twice on Sunday morning, at 9:30 am and 10:10 am. A maximum of 30 persons can to participate each time. A volunteer from World Relief will run the simulation and give participants the opportunity to explore what refugees and immigrants give up as they leave their homelands.
- A group of at least 25 people will have the opportunity to go to the World Relief Garden in Kent and participate in garden work alongside folks who have immigrated to this area. Learn about foods and customs of those who are new to us and who are making their way into a new life. The garden group sign-up will be on September 9. Work at the garden will be on Saturday morning, September 15, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.
- World Relief will have a staffed Information Table with a host available to talk about the organization and ongoing opportunities to work alongside refugees and immigrants in the Puget Sound area.
- There will be a table for Writing Cards of support for refugees and immigrants and Letters to Elected Officials or Editors on a topic related to immigration and the experience of refugees.
- What do you need when you are new to an area and have nothing? We will build Welcome Kits stuffed withWelcome Notes to be given to newcomers as they settle into their new life here as our neighbors.
- There will be a Movie and Discussion. At 9:30 am and 10:10 am we will run the movie “Are You Listening” and have a guided discussion around issues of refugees and immigrants.
- Finally, we will create a Refugee Simulation, based on ELCA and Jesuit resources and combine it with Prayer Stations for reflection on the experience of refugees and immigrants.
We look forward to beginning our new program year with an exciting, thoughtful, and hands-on Sunday morning. Please mark your calendars now and come and worship, experience, and serve.
Resources and Information from our National Church
ELCA Social Message on Immigration
