Prayer for refugee week
Almighty God, We give you thanks for every way in which we experience Britain as a place of diversity and safety, opportunity and sanctuary. We pray for all who have come to this country as strangers in search of a welcome; particularly for the persecuted who have come in search of sanctuary.
We pray for those in the UK Border Agency who have the responsibility freely to admit and protect those who fear persecution, and resolutely to protect our borders from those who wish us harm. May they have wisdom, fair-mindedness and pride in the difficult and important work of deciding who can stay; and may we in turn take pride in the work that they do on our behalf.
Preserve O Lord our tradition of providing sanctuary to those forced to flee their homes because of tyranny, persecution and oppression. May each of us as citizens do our bit to show hospitality to refugees in our midst today, and safeguard sanctuary for the future.
May our communities thrive in diversity and peace, and may our citizenship in the United Kingdom reflect the open and inclusive citizenship of heaven,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen
Written by Canon Nicholas Sagovsky