Liturgy for Undocumented Workers
By Sam Rodriguez
Scripture Readings from Exodus 22: 21 and from Leviticus 19: 34
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: Iam the LORD your God.” (ESV)
Confession of Sins
Lord, we are gathered under Your Name to ask forgiveness for our attitude regarding the undocumented workers living in the United States. We have ignored Your commands to love and protect the stranger. We have not been charitable towards them and we have harbored ill will against them. We have not seen their presence here as an opportunity to show them Your Kingdom. Forgive us, Lord. We have done this wicked thing and we repent. For Christ’s glory we ask and pray these things. Amen.
Absolution
Bless the Lord who forgives our sins
His mercy endures forever
Prayer for the Undocumented Worker
For those who have to work far away from the land they love, we pray
Lord, have mercy
For those who must endure the hardship of being separated from their family, we pray
Lord, have mercy
For their children who endure shame and ridicule simply because they are
different from us, we pray
Lord, have mercy
For those who are lost and alone in this nation because they cannot speak
the common language, we pray
Lord, have mercy
For those who have no voice as they “…face danger, violence, oppression and degradation,” we pray
Lord have mercy
Collective Prayer of Reconciliation
Eternal God, You have forgiven us our sins and You have heard our prayers for those less fortunate than ourselves. Grant, O Lord, that our spirits would be humble and that our hearts would be filled with compassion towards them. May all our thoughts ever and always be good towards them and may we be called upon by You to alleviate their sufferings.
For it is in Your great Name that we pray, Amen.
Sam Rodriguez is a student at Fuller Theological Seminary
