Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz invites us to pray for the April 4 hearing of Mennonite Church USA et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al.
Please join us online or in person for an interfaith prayer vigil at 3:30 PT/6:30 ET on April 3. REGISTER HERE.
Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz is Mennonite Church USA’s denominational minister for Peace and Justice. For more than 25 years, she served as the coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee’s Restorative Justice program. She also co-authored “The Little Book of Restorative Discipline for Schools” and “What Will Happen to Me?” Lorraine graduated from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and earned a master’s in Social Work from Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania. She and her husband attend Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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God, we come before you today with heavy hearts for those who seek refuge, safety and a hopeful future. As a God of justice and compassion, we ask you to remind those with power to uphold the legal challenge that allows all to practice our faith freely without government interference. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, and we are using our voice to ask the government to allow us to do that.
Lord, we see the fear and uncertainty that so many face, those seeking shelter in houses of worship, children finding stability in schools, those sick receiving care in hospitals. These places have long been sanctuaries, spaces providing peace and protection. We ask that you guide those who advocate for their restoration. We ask that you provide strength, wisdom and clarity for those involved in hearing this case.
Let justice prevail, God. May our government policies be shaped by compassion not by fear, by righteousness not by division. May those with power to make decisions truly see the humanity in every person in the same way God sees the humanity of all, regardless of status or nationality.
We gather together as people of faith, trusting in your justice and your call to love the stranger as you have commanded all of us throughout history. May we continue to work tirelessly for a world where dignity and safety are upheld for all. Amen.
For further reading
- MC USA and more than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations sue to protect religious freedoms – Read it here.
- The free exercise of our faith by Michael Danner, MC USA Associate Executive Director of Church Vitality – Read it here.
- Our Anabaptist witness as Mennonites – Read it here.
- Exploring the issues: Immigration – Download PDF here.
