A prayer for ‘Finding Freedom’

Heavenly Father, we are so glad you are our Father and are preparing a place for us in your home – a place of love, security and abundant life with you.

We bring to you the people of Sudan who are fleeing their homes for surrounding countries. Bless the work of Australian Lutheran World Service, who are committing funds to welcome people in Ethiopia and South Sudan with food, shelter and hygiene.

We remember refugee guests at Kakuma and Dabaad refugee camps in Kenya, home to almost 411,000 refugees. We pray for quality education for the children in the camps, the wellbeing of all and care for those with special needs.

We ask for the provision of loving support to the Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh due to systematic discrimination and targeted violence. We pray that the support from the Australian Government increases.

We thank you for Lutheran churches in Poland who are welcoming Ukrainian refugees as guests. May they continue to treat the people they meet with dignity, just as Jesus did.

Lord, we are overwhelmed by the needs of refugees and those who wish to find the kinds of freedom that we take for granted. Help us know that we are your hands and feet, shining your love in these dark places through our aid-giving.

And Lord, we pray that we can be a true neighbour to those asylum seekers who have made it to the shores of Australia and New Zealand. May your love shine through us through the friendships that we form.

In Jesus, who fled with his parents to escape infanticide. Amen.

World Refugee Day is on 20 June 2023, and Refugee Week in Australia is from 18 to 24 June 2023. The theme of Refugee Week is Finding Freedom.