This year, October brings together World Communion Sunday (October 4) that invites us as Christians to the Communion Table and celebrates our relationships and unity across all boundaries and backgrounds, with the holy days of Sukkot (October 2-9), a Jewish holiday during which strangers are welcomed into the Sukkah—a temporary structure.

Please join us as Disciples and interfaith partners in a faithful "Weekend of Holy Welcome" from October 1-4. During this weekend, we will offer prayers, petitions, and spiritual presence in support of immigrants and asylum seekers at:

*Berks family detention center (PA) &

 *Irwin Detention Center (GA) where allegations of medical abuse recently arose, & for

*Binsar, an asylum seeker who was recently arrested by ICE on church property in Md.

1.Write & Share on Social Media a “Prayer for Holy Welcome” for families & individuals in detention at Berks & Irwin, & for Binsar: View Resources for prayer ideas, graphics, and examples at: http://bit.ly/HolyWelcome! You can also share these graphics and prayers on social media.

*Record your prayer in a 30 second video or write down your 30 second prayer, and Share

your prayer on social media:  On Facebook, post the video or written prayer on your page as a public post, and share it with your place of worship and friends. Tag @interfaithimmigrationcoalition in the post so that it can be seen and shared by our broader community.

*Here are sample posts you can include along with your written or recorded prayer:

World Communion Sunday reminds us that all people are welcome and united at God's table. As I celebrate this year, I’m reminded of our call to welcome the sojourner—including immigrants and asylum seekers who are suffering in ICE detention. Join me in praying for their safety and liberation this World Communion Sunday. @interfaithimmigrationcoalition

 

On Twitter, Tweet the video with a short caption or paste the written prayer into a Tweet. Tag @interfaithimm so we can retweet you, and use #Faith4Asylum. Here are sample captions you can include along with your written or recorded prayer:

 

 

*Share your prayer with your faith community: Share your prayer to your church's Facebook page or contact your Pastor to request they include your prayer in a virtual service. 

*Submit your prayer to be shared at the Shut Down Berks Vigil on 10/4: Email your prayer to Katie Thompson (a Disciples leader who lives in AZ but helps coordinate faith efforts to Shut Down Berks in PA!) at thomp123.katie@gmail.com. Learn more about the vigil below!

Berks County Detention Center, PA: Shut Down Berks County Detention Center to Protect

Irwin County Detention Center, GA: Demand that ICE suspend medical services to women at Irwin County Detention Center as officials investigate the accounts of medical abuse.

Binsar, an asylum seeker: Faith leader sign-on letter to advocate for freeing Binsar and urging ICE to adhere to their own policy of respecting sensitive locations.

ICE and LaSalle Corrections: Provide immigrants detained in Irwin with basic necessities and PPE.

Join the Shut Down Berks Coalition and Shut Down Berks Interfaith Witness on Sunday, October 4, from 3-5 pm ET, for a vigil, silent Jericho prayer walk outside Governor Wolf's house in York, PA, & call to Governor Wolf to #ShutDownBerks. To attend in person, RSVP to Katie Thompson at thomp123.katie@gmail.com. Come prepared with a 30 second prayer or message to briefly share.

To participate virtually, we invite you to submit a brief video (30 seconds max) that shares a written prayer for families detained in Berks, and which calls on Governor Wolf to issue an emergency removal order to Shut Down Berks. Videos and prayers can be sent to shutdownberks@gmail.com.

The vigil will be livestreamed on the Shut Down Berks Coalition Facebook Page. You can also follow along on Instagram at @shutdownberkscoalition and Twitter at @ShutDownBerks.

May God continue to guide you--and us all--as we seek to respond to all God's children.