#Not1More Deportation

An Ash Wednesday Liturgy for an End to Deportations

Prayers on Ash Wednesday for Immigrants’ Rights in 2014 – Developed by Rev. Noel Andersen

Greeting

Ash Wednesday is a tradition designed repent from our sin and transform our lives and our communities to be focused on the love of God. Every day 1,100 people are deported tearing families apart and over the last five years nearly 2 million immigrants have been deported. As we prepare spiritually for Easter, let us repent from the structural sin that is our broken immigration system, causing daily separation of thousands of families and children left without parents. Together let us pray for full integration and inclusion to welcome our immigrant brothers and sisters into our communities and congregations.

 

Commitment to Not One More Deportation

Just as the prophets spoke truth to power, so must we also raise the moral urgency of the crisis immigrants face in this country and pray that President Obama will stop the deportations and grant deferred action from deportation to all undocumented people.

 

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 58:1-12 or Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

 

Song
Message/ Testimony
Prayer of Confession

Leader

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to struggle against everything that leads us away from the love of God and Neighbor.  We let our system of laws take advantage of the immigrants, using their labor for our benefit, while not fully including them in our community and society. We have betrayed our neighbor by worshiping human made laws over the commandments of God. Repentance, fasting, prayer, study, works of love and welcoming the stranger help us return to that love of God.

 

People

We confess we have not loved You with all our heart, and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.

Leader

I invite you now to recommit yourselves to love of God and Neighbor, and be part of the movement to stop deportations that has brought pain and separation for thousands of families.

People

Oh God, accept our repentance today, for the way we have allowed neglect of civil and human rights. Let the indifference of our President end here and now, as we pray for him to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to all undocumented people.

Imposition of Ashes

Sending Forth

Blessed are You, Lord Jesus Christ. You crossed every border between Divinity and humanity to make your home with us. Help us to welcome you in newcomers, migrants and refugees. Thank you for the opportunity to stop deportations so families will no longer be torn apart, so that we all might live with dignity as children of God regardless of our nationality, language or culture. Let our work bear fruit, and break the chains of oppression, so that all are welcomed as equals and that the realm of God might come to this earth as we learn to truly love our neighbor.

 

 
Comments