Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future
The second week of our journey into Lent and today we meet Arwa, a single mother with three children, Palestinian refugees who came to Montreal via Saudi Arabia and New York City.
There are thousands of refugees in the world, fleeing from wars not of their making, fleeing poverty and abuse, but mostly they are people and families fleeing to somewhere. Travelling and hoping that this journey will bring them to safety, hoping that this time they will not just be stopping on the way to somewhere else, but that this will be a place they can call home.
We know from our recent experience with the Jardo family: Miriam, Mohamod, Tasneem and Khalil, that family is so important and not just any place can be called home. We were fortunate to be a part of welcoming them to a new country, of making their initial forays into this new world a little less daunting, a little less bewildering, and a lot more friendly.
This is Awra’s story and some of her experience with The Montreal City Mission, a United Church supported outreach mission in downtown Montreal. The following excerpt is from Minute for Mission 2021:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future
The second week of our journey into Lent and today we meet Arwa, a single mother with three children, Palestinian refugees who came to Montreal via Saudi Arabia and New York City.
There are thousands of refugees in the world, fleeing from wars not of their making, fleeing poverty and abuse, but mostly they are people and families fleeing to somewhere. Travelling and hoping that this journey will bring them to safety, hoping that this time they will not just be stopping on the way to somewhere else, but that this will be a place they can call home.
We know from our recent experience with the Jardo family: Miriam, Mohamod, Tasneem and Khalil, that family is so important and not just any place can be called home. We were fortunate to be a part of welcoming them to a new country, of making their initial forays into this new world a little less daunting, a little less bewildering, and a lot more friendly.
This is Awra’s story and some of her experience with The Montreal City Mission, a United Church supported outreach mission in downtown Montreal. The following excerpt is from Minute for Mission 2021:
We all need someone who believes in us. Someone who supports our dreams. When you give to Mission & Service, you are that someone. Here’s one story of how your belief and support make all the difference.
Three years ago, Arwa was a Palestinian refugee who had just arrived in Montreal. She had made a harrowing journey, travelling from Saudi Arabia through New York City with three children in tow.
“It wasn’t easy for me. I was a single mom in a new country with new people. I was struggling for housing and looking for a job. It wasn’t easy at all,” she says.
Arwa sought help at Montreal City Mission, an outreach ministry your Mission & Service gifts support. There, her whole family found belonging. Arwa’s children made friends, and she benefitted from training programs and events.
It wasn’t long before Arwa gathered a group of women together to form a catering cooperative called Women Weaving Their Dreams, which specializes in homemade Middle Eastern meals. The group was going strong and the women were becoming more financially secure when COVID-19 struck.
Three years ago, Arwa was a Palestinian refugee who had just arrived in Montreal. She had made a harrowing journey, travelling from Saudi Arabia through New York City with three children in tow.
“It wasn’t easy for me. I was a single mom in a new country with new people. I was struggling for housing and looking for a job. It wasn’t easy at all,” she says.
Arwa sought help at Montreal City Mission, an outreach ministry your Mission & Service gifts support. There, her whole family found belonging. Arwa’s children made friends, and she benefitted from training programs and events.
It wasn’t long before Arwa gathered a group of women together to form a catering cooperative called Women Weaving Their Dreams, which specializes in homemade Middle Eastern meals. The group was going strong and the women were becoming more financially secure when COVID-19 struck.
No stranger to hardship, Arwa was determined to help others through the pandemic. She initiated a sewing circle to make masks. The group made over 500 masks a week and distributed them to homeless shelters and frontline workers. “I was so happy to help people,” says Arwa, whose extraordinary leadership skills landed her a full-time job at Montreal City Mission.
“I consider myself a lucky person that I got to know this organization. It has become not only my full-time job, not only my provider. It has become my home. I hope to see more and more women getting the same chance to have this better life for their families,” she says. “I wanted a country that could hold me and hug me my whole life long. I found it in Canada.”
“I consider myself a lucky person that I got to know this organization. It has become not only my full-time job, not only my provider. It has become my home. I hope to see more and more women getting the same chance to have this better life for their families,” she says. “I wanted a country that could hold me and hug me my whole life long. I found it in Canada.”
Arwa’s story has a happy ending and we rejoice for her and her family just like the Jardo family that Texada Island supported as refugees when they came to Canada - they have found a place to call home.
I don’t know if Jesus was looking for a home? I suppose not, because his mission always called for him to leave, to go and preach and heal and spread the Good News. The same Good News we listen to today; that we are home when we are with God, when we gather in community, when we are welcomed, accepted, loved and given opportunity to find our place. Our prayer is that our church is such a place and if Jesus walked in, he would feel at home.
Let Us Build a House #1 More Voices
(link can be found on Texada Island United Church Facebook page to sing along)
Verse 1
Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live.
A place where saints and children
tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace.
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 2
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true.
Where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace.
Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 3
Let us build a house where love is found,
in water, wine and wheat.
A banquet hall on holy ground,
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space,
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us;
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 4
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone.
To heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear
the image of God’s face.
Let us bring an end to fear and danger;
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 5
Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard.
And loved and treasured, taught and
claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace.
Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter;
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place
I don’t know if Jesus was looking for a home? I suppose not, because his mission always called for him to leave, to go and preach and heal and spread the Good News. The same Good News we listen to today; that we are home when we are with God, when we gather in community, when we are welcomed, accepted, loved and given opportunity to find our place. Our prayer is that our church is such a place and if Jesus walked in, he would feel at home.
Let Us Build a House #1 More Voices
(link can be found on Texada Island United Church Facebook page to sing along)
Verse 1
Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live.
A place where saints and children
tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace.
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 2
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true.
Where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace.
Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 3
Let us build a house where love is found,
in water, wine and wheat.
A banquet hall on holy ground,
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space,
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us;
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 4
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone.
To heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear
the image of God’s face.
Let us bring an end to fear and danger;
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Verse 5
Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard.
And loved and treasured, taught and
claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace.
Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter;
Refrain
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place
