Last evening a group of people gathered at our Community Living Center where Deb Seng, Patrice Swick and I shared our experiences of working with the refugees in El Paso, Texas in May at Annunciation House. We began our presentation with the prayer; A Moment of Grace and observed silence for all of those who are searching for a safe place to live.  It was a powerful moment. 

This was the prayer we shared.  We found it in the volunteer lounge at El Convento – the Sisters of Loretto convent where we stayed while in El Paso.  Those in attendance last night asked me to post the prayer on my blog.  In your conversations today with God, please pray A Moment of Grace and remember those who are yearning to be free, to live in safety and to find peace.

A Moment of Grace – A Prayer for Refugees

God of our Wandering Ancestors,

Long have we known that your heart is with the refugee:

That you were born into time in a family of refugees fleeing violence in their homeland,

Who then gathered up their hungry child and fled into alien country.

Their cry, Your cry, resounds through the ages: “Will you let me in?”

Give us hearts that break open when our brothers and sisters turn to us with that same cry.

Then surely all these things will follow:

Ears will no longer turn deaf to their voices.

Eyes will see a moment for grace instead of a threat.

Tongues will not be silenced but will instead advocate.

Hands will reach out working for peace in their homeland;

Working for justice in the lands where they seek safe haven.

Lord, protect all refugees in their travels.

May they find a friend in me and so make me worthy of the refuge

I have found in You.

Amen