World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day is celebrated on June 20th every year

World Refugee Day was created in 2001 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

On June 20th, we invite you to commemorate World Refugee Day in a way that is most appropriate for your community and respects your relationships. Join the global chorus honoring those in refugee situations by:

• Sharing the stories of refugees and their community partners and honoring the positive impact refugees have on U.S. communities
• Building understanding about the conflicts around the world that cause so many people to become internally displaced
• Working to create welcome and safety in the United States
• Expanding the welcome we extend to refugees and immigrants within our churches and in our communities
• Dedicating a Sunday worship service to refugees and displaced people
• Using your voice to accompany refugees and displaced people by amplifying their voices in advocacy efforts

Please join us in the spirit of welcome by recommitting this World Refugee Day to building a safe and equitable society, where refugees, asylum seekers, and people of all races and nationalities are welcome. #WeChooseWelcome 

Need help deciding how best your congregation can honor World Refugee Day? Contact the Mission Specialist for Migration Accompaniment Ministries: Omar Salinas-Chacon at omar.chacon@pcusa.org 

Learning Resources

Displaced People 

• United Nations statistics on the 123 million people displaced around the world. 
• Refugee Council USA term dictionary: who are Refugees? Asylum Seekers? Internally Displaced People? Stateless Person? Humanitarian Parolees? Special Immigrant Visa Holders? Temporary Protection Status? 

Refugee Process 

• Council on Foreign Relations guide to the US Refugee Program. 

Asylum Process 

• Refugee Council USA guide to the asylum process. 
• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society video on the asylum process 

Advocacy Resources

Welcoming 

• PCUSA Welcoming Guide gives you practical ways to welcome refugees. 

Talking with Lawmakers 

• Office of Public Witness guide to meeting with legislators online.
• US House of Representatives Directory which allows you to find your representative’s contact information
• US Senate Directory which allows you to find your senator contact information 

Worship Resources

Reflection Guides & Sermon 

• PCUSA Advent and Christmastide Lectionary focused on refugees
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Annunciation Advent Guide focusing on disruption and invitation of migrants 

Hymns 

• "God of the Traveler" by William McConnell
• “Abraham Journeyed to a New Country” by Carolyn Winfrey Gillett
• “The Children Come” by Carolyn Winfrey
• “A Little Bit of Salt” by Carolyn Winfrey
• “I Lift My Eyes” by William McConnell
• "When the Poor Ones" 762: Glory to God
• "This Is My Song" 340: Glory to God
• "O God of Every Nation" 756: Glory to God
• "For Everyone Born" 769: Glory to God
• "By the Waters of Babylon (Psalm 137)" 784: Glory to God
• "We Are One in Christ Jesus" 322: Glory to God
• "I to the Hills Will Lift My Eyes (Psalm 121)" 45: Glory to God
• "To the Hills I Lift My Eyes (Psalm 121)" 845: Glory to God
• "Come Now, O Prince of Peace" 103: Glory to God 

Prayers 

• Global Refuge immigrant centered prayers
• “Beatitudes” by Rev. Alison Harrington
• 2023 World Refugee Prayers
• Prayer for the People and Nation of Afghanistan
• Prayer for Ukraine
• Prayer for Unaccompanied Children
• The Immigrants’ Creed
• Intercessory Prayer for World Refugee Day 2021

Videos 

• Prayer from Rev. Bertha Nzeba
• Refugees are People
• International Peacemakers Global Virtual Choir
• Prayer for Cameroonians from Valery Nodem
• Look In My Eyes (song)--a good gathering song or musical reflection during worship
• Rev. Tom Hagood, pastor of Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA and moderator of the New Sanctuary Movement of Atlanta offers these inspirational remarks  at the "Welcoming Asylum Seekers" conference on April 6, 2024.  It is part sermon and part call to action!
• Locked in a Box Documentary (Counter Story Productions): This documentary covers what happens in immigration detention centers and what human rights abuses in immigration detention. There is a study guide and poster for this film as well.
• The Genesis of Exodus: This PCUSA film, story map, reflection guide and cited resources describe the root causes of Central American migration.
• Children’s sermon: Crocodile’s Crossing: A Search for Home (a Flyaway Books picture book which also includes an activity guide) 

Scripture 

• 2023 World Refugee Scripture

First Sunday in Advent

• Isaiah 64:1–9
• Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19
• 1 Corinthians 1:3–9
• Mark 13:24–37 

Second Sunday in Advent

• Isaiah 40:1–11
• Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13
• 2 Peter 3:8–15a
• Mark 1:1–8 

Third Sunday in Advent 

• Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11
• Psalm 126
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-–24
• John 1:6–8, 19–28 

Fourth Sunday in Advent

• 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16
• Luke 1:46b–55
• Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26
• Romans 16:25–27
• Luke 1:26–38