Friday September 30th, 2016 Psalm 137
By the rivers of Babylon-there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. (verse 1)
At this point in time, it is impossible for me to read the opening verse of Psalm 137 without thinking of the thousands of Syrian refugees immigrating to Canada, a country peopled by immigrants. Although these refugees need to leave their war-torn homeland and the crowded refugee camps of their neighbouring countries, many will surely grieve for the loss of family members and friends, as well as the language and culture they leave behind. It may take some time before they care to sing their songs in what to them will be a foreign land.
Right now, at my church in Toronto, we have actively joined forces with the members of three other faith communities to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. Helping a family find and furnish a home, enroll in schools and ESL courses, and navigate the transit and banking systems will be but a few of the tasks that await us. We will need to ask for God’s help and guidance as we seek to make “our family” feel welcome and comfortable in their new country.
O Lord, we are all your children. Help us to sing a new song to you together in this land. Amen. — CKA
Contributed by Blending Voices
At this point in time, it is impossible for me to read the opening verse of Psalm 137 without thinking of the thousands of Syrian refugees immigrating to Canada, a country peopled by immigrants. Although these refugees need to leave their war-torn homeland and the crowded refugee camps of their neighbouring countries, many will surely grieve for the loss of family members and friends, as well as the language and culture they leave behind. It may take some time before they care to sing their songs in what to them will be a foreign land.
Right now, at my church in Toronto, we have actively joined forces with the members of three other faith communities to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. Helping a family find and furnish a home, enroll in schools and ESL courses, and navigate the transit and banking systems will be but a few of the tasks that await us. We will need to ask for God's help and guidance as we seek to make "our family" feel welcome and comfortable in their new country.
