Immigrant Rights Sunday

The first Sunday in May has been designated Immigrant Rights Sunday within the United Church of Christ. Justice and Witness Ministries and Wider Church Ministries are urging congregations to lift up immigrants on this day: to learn about their concerns, honor their contributions to our country and communities, hear their pain, pray for their well-being, and listen to hear where God is leading us regarding issues of immigration.

Welcoming the stranger among us as native born is part of our faith tradition, for we too were once strangers (Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 19:33, Deuteronomy 10:17-19). However, too often the immigrants among us are rejected, treated as outcasts and placed on the margins of society.

May 1^st is international Labor Day and has become a day in which we recognize the value and labor of immigrants in the U.S. On the first Sunday in May, congregations are encouraged to include stories about immigrants in their worship service and explore avenues to advocate for immigrant justice.  Below are the most current issues this year on immigration with potential ways to get involved to limit deportations and unnecessary detention of immigrants.

Resources

• Building Sanctuary For All… All of Us
  “Shouldn’t our sanctuaries offer this same kind of Sanctuary…to anyone? Wouldn’t we want this grace, and do we not call upon this kind of love every Sunday?” Read more of Rev. Julian DeShazier’s reflection on Immigrants Rights Sunday and intersectionality.
• Explore our worship worship and prayer resources and start planning your congregations Immigrant Rights Sunday observances.

*If your congregation would like to get more involved on immigrants’ rights advocacy and organizing efforts please contact Rev. Noel Andersen – mailto:nandersen@cwsglobal.org.

The Rev. Noel Andersen serves as UCC & CWS Grassroots Coordinator for Immigrants’ Rights in Washington, D.C.