Not Home. Come Home.

A Prayer for the Displaced

God of the Sojourner, the exiled, and the displaced,
You who led Abraham into the unknown,
who heard the cries of Your people in Egypt,
who carried Ruth into a foreign land and called her Your own—
draw near to those who have left everything behind.

Father, we bring before You the millions who journey across deserts, oceans, and borders, seeking safety, seeking hope, seeking a place to belong.
        We lift up the mother cradling her child in an unfamiliar land,
        the father laboring long hours to rebuild what was lost,
        the orphan searching for kindness,
        the family torn apart by war and waiting to be reunited.

Jesus, You were once fleeing home, carried by Your parents to Egypt,
escaping violence and seeking shelter in a land not Your own.
You know the fear, the loneliness, the uncertainty.
You walked among the outcasts, welcomed the stranger,
and called the weary to Yourself.
          O Christ, be the refuge for those who have no home.
          Be the comfort for those who grieve what they have lost.
          Be the strength for those who feel unseen and unwelcome.
          We, your people, long to see with your eyes.

Holy Spirit, stir the hearts of Your people.
         Move Your church to love as You love,
         to welcome as You welcome,
         to open doors, set tables, and build bridges.
         Let the church in North America be a warm hearth of hospitality.

May we see in the face of every refugee, every immigrant, the image of God—beloved, worthy, cherished.

Lord, call Your people—young and old—to action.

Open the hands of the young to befriend new arrivals,
learning their stories and walking with them in love.

Strengthen working adults to give generously, to sponsor families, to advocate for just policies, and to create opportunities for dignity and stability.

Empower the elderly to be steadfast in prayer, to mentor and encourage those navigating a new life, and to extend the wisdom of welcome in word and deed.

May every Anglican find their place in this sacred work,
           so that no refugee feels alone,
           no stranger remains without care,
           and no church misses getting to step into Your Kingdom vision.

And for every weary traveler searching for a place to call home,
         may they find their truest belonging in You—
         the God who gathers the scattered,
         who makes strangers into family,
         who turns exiles into citizens of Your eternal kingdom.

Come, Lord Jesus, and make all things new.
Until that day, let us love with Your love,
give with Your hands,
and serve with Your heart.

In Your mighty and merciful name, we pray,
Amen.