Day 29 of 30
By Jonathan from Welcome Churches
Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!
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Daily verse
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Thought for the day
Language of hospitality
The door opened into a sparsely furnished room. Some nervous and curious faces greeted us as we said “Hello”. They invited us in, giving us the best seats, then there were smiles and laughter as we tried to communicate with Ahmad and Fatemeh; using simple English and hand signals while they did their best to respond.
The shy kids clung to their parents, eyeing up the strangers who had just arrived. They gratefully received the little gifts we had brought in our Welcome Box, thankful that someone cared enough to visit them in this strange land.
They were soon serving us hot sweet tea from small glasses along with a side serving of nuts and dried fruit.
Here was an opportunity to speak the language of hospitality that they know so well, that has been part of the rhythm of Middle Eastern life since the time of Abraham.
As we drank tea with them, they received our visit as an honour. Hospitality is such a deeply held value in Middle Eastern Culture, and a way that Muslim asylum seekers feel able to give back to their Western hosts.
We can learn much about hospitality from people like Ahmad and Fatemeh, even if they have had to flee and leave everything behind, if we will only take the time to sit and drink tea with them.
Prayer for the day
Prayer for Refugees (Church of England):
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.
Daily action
Welcome Churches vision is for every refugee to be welcomed by the local church. This year, we are building a Welcome Network, a national network of churches committed to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers into their communities, reducing the isolation of thousands of refugees each year.
Your turn
Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!
Resources
Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?
There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:
Pray Together as a Congregation
Small Group Session
Night of Power Prayer Meeting
Prayer Walk Guide
What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.