World Refugee Sunday is held annually - typically on the Sundays before and after June 20 (World Refugee Day) to:
- corporately remember the needs of refugees,
- to participate together in prayer for refugees & displaced people,
- to respond in practical ways to both ease the burden of those who have been displaced,
- to spread the word among our peers to get involved and
- be inspired to offer hospitality and hope to refugees.
Unfortunately, the numbers of displaced people & refugees are higher again this year. There are now more than 100 million women, children and men forcibly displaced in the world. Of these, more than 30 million have been recognized as refugees and another 4.6 million are asylum seekers.
There is so much room for God's children to step into the gap and "be a neighbour" to many who have been forced from their homes.
Life as a refugee comes with its own unique challenges:
- Some countries have very little capacity to respond to refugees within their borders,
- Refugees and asylum seekers experience financial hardship and food insecurity,
- Many refugees struggle with mental health issues,
- In many contexts, health access is difficult or impossible,
- Refugees are more vulnerble to exploitation, evictions and discrimination.
World Refugee Sunday: June 18 and 25, 2023
Ideas for something to mark the day with your congregations:
- Include a focus on refugees during personal and congregational prayers. We can provide you with specific names of people who need your prayers on their behalf.
- Read a scripture passage that has to do with God's heart for the stranger and the vulnerable such as Deut. 10:17-18, Lev. 19:33-34, Matt. 25:33-45 or Prov. 31:8-9 as a start.
- Provide an opportunity for people to give to a refugee cause in your area.
- Invite someone knowledgable about refugees to speak in person or during an online meeting.
There are a number of resources and links available below that you are encouraged to share with everyone connected to your congregation. As we work together, change can happen for the vulnerable. And the glory of God's great becomes visible!
- World Renew has Refugee Sunday 2023 resources available now.
- MCC has created a digital booklet to help churches plan a worship service on the theme of refugees and hospitality.
- These and several more resources have been made available by the EFC.