MULTICULTURAL MINISTRIES
East Ohio Global Migration Sunday
A Collaboration with the Order of Deacons and the Multicultural Ministries Office
Contacts:
Rev. Kathy Dickriede, director of Missions & Community Engagement, E-mail
Will Fenton-Jones, director of Multicultural Ministries, E-mail
Leader: God delivers those who are needy, those who are poor, and those who cry for help.
People: God saves the lives of those who have no helper.
Leader: In worship, we remember God’s deliverance in our times of need.
People: Help us share this deliverance with those who are displaced, those who are outcast, and those who are hurting.
God of All People, we have little trouble remembering that your grace and protection rest on us and on people like us. We have a harder time remembering your promise of grace and protection to those who are displaced, those who are outcast, and those who are separated from their families. Even when our love and grace fall short, we are grateful that your faithfulness extends to all people, especially those who are hurting and alone. Even so, we recognize today that we are called to be your Presence to these same individuals. This morning, we reaffirm our commitment to welcoming those who are displaced, including those who are outcast, and partnering with those who have been separated from their loved ones. Grant us your grace, wisdom and strength in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God welcomes us, wherever we are coming from. God pardons us, whatever we have done.
In the name of Jesus, Outcast Among Outcasts, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus, you are forgiven. Glory to God! Amen.
Leader: Once we were called out of our homelands.
People: We sought shelter and safety in new places.
Leader: We looked for work and to fulfill God’s purposes.
People: We built homes, made friends and created families.
Leader: We created new lives.
People: We made a way where there was no way.
Leader: In new lands, we learned new ways to know God.
People: The revelation of Your love brought forth new light.
Leader: The presence of God migrated with us.
People: We were not left alone.
Leader: Even when we were not accepted or were brought against our will,
People: God did not abandon us.
Leader: As Mary, Joseph and Jesus sought asylum in Egypt,
People: May we seek safety in God’s love and God’s community.
Leader: As we have sought welcome in new places,
People: So may we welcome all God’s children.
Matthew 2:1-15; Psalm 72:1-7; 10-14
Matthew 2:1-15
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
Psalm 72
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.
Hebrews calls us to show hospitality to strangers, because when we do, we show hospitality to God. As Christians, we do not approach the issue of migration from the perspective of our own “tribe” or nation. Instead, we offer an expansive faith community of love and welcome, a community that teaches and practices hospitality to the poor, the homeless, and the oppressed (adapted from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church #6028).
This morning, you are invited to consider a special offering to the Peace with Justice Fund. You will find information in your bulletin about how you can send a donation. Remembering all those who are displaced and oppressed this day, we invite the ushers to receive our tithes, offerings, and gifts.
If you wish to donate to East Ohio Conference efforts to work toward justice with migrant communities, you may contribute to the Peace with Justice Fund 9029.
Make checks payable to: East Ohio Conference
Memo line: Fund 9029 Migration
Mailing address:
East Ohio Conference UMC
PO Box 76019
Cleveland, OH 44101-4755
Inviting God, even when our welcome is imperfect, you perfect us. May these gifts be made more than we have offered as we seek to change people’s lives. Empower us, by your Spirit, to strive for equity, to feed the hungry, to include the outcast and to reunite families. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
We are people who journey as vessels containing wellsprings of hope; sharing, replacing, and adding new waters of proclamation, power, prophecy, and prayer to the containers of our life and faith. We pause to reflect on the movement of the tide of this journey, as it washes upon our shores, cleansing and calling us back to ministry and faith.
Let us pray for our global community …
For the division of our lives and world …
For those living in the midst of violence …
Let’s pray for those living in poverty …
For the effort of peace and the call within.
(Source: The Book of Worship #527)
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And, also, with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: We give thanks to you, God of all people. You hear the cries of those seeking justice. You welcome the stranger. You offer grace to the lost. We praise you, O God, for you remember the forgotten and you make a home for us in your love.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus gathered with his followers, remembering Your deliverance from Egypt. On that Passover, Christ gave new meaning to the meal of Your people.
As they gathered at the table, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
Thanks be to God for God’s presence among us! We are reminded that we all live in a time of movement: from hurt to healing, from confused to confident, and from lost to found. May we be a people who help one another find wholeness and a sense of home. To the God who is able to guide us all back to comfort and safety, Amen.
Sources: The United Methodist Hymnal (UMH), The Faith We Sing (FWS), Songs of Zion (SOZ), and Worship & Song (W&S)
Copyright: Before projecting lyrics to these songs check to be sure that they are part of the CCLI catalog by visiting www.us.ccli.com and entering the name of the song.
Copyright: Before including the songs in a livestreamed or recorded and posted worship service your church must have a Streaming and Podcasting license and you will need to confirm the song is part of that company’s music catalog by vising the company’s website and entering the name of the song.
Music Tip: If your congregation is not familiar with some of these songs, bear in mind that many of them would make lovely special music or offertory music. They can be sung by a soloist, small group, or even a choir in unison (children or adults). Feel free to be creative even if certain songs are not appropriate for congregational singing.
(Created by Rev. Carrie Antczak, Deacon, East Ohio)
Option 1
Read “Refuge” by Anne Booth & Sam Usher ($1 from every purchase goes to the UN Refugee Agency)
Ask children what kind of kindness they think strangers might have offered Jesus on his journey. (If they need help: What kinds of things would a baby need? What might his mom and dad need?)
Did you know there are over 68 million refugees, or people like Jesus and his family, today?
These are people who are moving from one home to another place, because like Jesus’ family, they are in danger if they don’t move. The Bible tells us in many, many places that we are to be friends to refugees, and offer kindness whenever we can.
I wonder what kind of kindness we can show them?
What is your favorite act of kindness? (They might say sharing, giving a hug, etc.)
(Try to relate these “favorites” to thing they or their families or church might be able to do for a refugee family.)
(Say a prayer that God would open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters, and that God would use our imaginations to inspire us in ways that we can show kindness.)
Option 2
Consider if anyone in your congregation has an immigration or refugee experience. Meet with them ahead of time to consider an interview. Allow the children to ask questions as well. Focus on how strangers showed them kindness along the way.
Option 3
Consider collecting for Church World Service’s Blanket+ fund. You can bring in a blanket and ask children what all a blanket could be used for. Paint the picture of a family, just like Jesus’ family, that had to be on the move to stay out of danger. How could a blanket be helpful. Get creative! Tents, shelter, bag for belongings, etc.
Learn more and download resources at: cwsblankets.org/
Pray for God’s love to cover all of the children there, as well as children around the world. Pray for courage and inspiration to show kindness to those who must leave their homes to be safe.
Rev. Kathy Dickriede
Connectional Ministries Office
Missions & Community Engagement Director
Ext. 114
Will Fenton-Jones
Connectional Ministries Office
Multicultural Ministries Director
Ext. 117
The East Ohio Conference Office:
located in North Canton, OH,
near Akron-Canton Airport.
Address:
8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone:
(330) 499-3972
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.