Border Justice Immersion Trip, January 2025

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Scripture, Daily Prayer and Centering Question

These prayers, scriptures and guiding questions are designed for our whole church community to pray and reflect during the week of Monday, January 13th through Monday, January 20th. This is the week of our Orchard Ridge UCC Border Justice Immersion Trip, where 19 people from our community will immerse ourselves in the situation at the US-Mexico Border in Tucson, Arizona, through education, culture, relationships, stories, hands-on activism and advocacy that will transform our minds and hearts. A church is a living organism, and when one part of the organism is changed, the whole is transformed, While a group of 19 are traveling to Tucson for a Border Justice Immersion Trip, we are all journeying together.

Welcoming the stranger, loving our neighbor, providing hospitality to the vulnerable and following God’s guidance of fleeing from captivity or danger in one land into safety in another are all Biblical themes core to our faith. When we do justice work as people of faith, we have the opportunity to root ourselves in God’s active love. We become part of a larger story of God’s love made manifest in the world through the hands and feet of ordinary people loving one another in the name of God. Let us allow heaven and earth to draw nearer in these perilous times. May this week be one that transforms our hearts, minds and spirits so that we can transform the world with ever more love.

You will notice a scripture beginning each day’s devotional related to loving our neighbor or to themes of immigration justice. I recommend that you find a rhythm of breathing as you read it, so that you can embody those texts and let them come alive in you and sink into your spirit. Read the scripture more than once. Notice which word or phrase stands out to you. Allow them to become centering words for your day.

Next, speak out loud or read silently the prayer. Add any prayer of your own to the one provided, or simply sit in silent prayer or meditation, opening yourself to God’s spirit.

Finally, a centering question for your day for you to read in the morning, ponder during the day, and answer during the evening. Our Border Justice Immersion Trip participants will have reflection time some evenings on this trip, and we will bring a response to the centering question of the day to share with one another. For all others, find someone to share with or write in a journal or reflect personally. May God bless you on the journey!

You will find the Border Justice Immersion Trip prayers, scriptures and guiding questions here (please click on the link), following my message above in the document.

With love,

Pastor Julia