In July 2016 the first group of refugees from the Syrian conflict
arrived across Britain – including 50 people in Worcestershire,
ranging in age from new born babies to octogenarians. Today
concludes Refugee Week 2017 (19 – 25 June) and your prayers
are asked for all refugees and those involved with their welcome and welfare.
This first group have been housed across the county – in Kidderminster, Worcester City
and Redditch – in private rented accommodation. Local volunteers, many from local
churches, have been active in welcoming and supporting them. As one example, from
well before the first arrivals, volunteers formed the group, ‘Bromsgrove and Redditch
Welcomes Refugees’ (BRWR).
Five families are now settled in Redditch, with children attending school and college
locally. Furniture, household items, clothing and bedding has been donated and
collected from across the churches and community. Volunteers took language lessons
in order to welcome, in their own language, those from the Syrian camps. Since their
arrival English language classes have been provided, winter coats donated, and social
events held, including a celebration of Eid at a local church, and a Christmas Party
at the Redditch Central Mosque.
Pray for all refugees, the few who have come to our
community, and the many millions living in difficult
conditions in camps in countries neighbouring
Syria, displaced within their own country, and in
other parts of Europe.
Pray for the work of BRWR and similar groups
across our region, giving thanks for what has been
achieved and praying for the continuing work over
coming months to prepare for further arrivals.
Dudley Deanery – Rural Dean: Dominic Melville
Diocese in Europe: Bishops Robert Innes and David Hamid
Diocese of Visby (Sweden): Bishop Sven-Bernhard Fast
Diocese of Copenhagen (Denmark): Bishop Peter Skov-Jakobsen
Diocese of Nyahururu (Kenya): Bishop Stephen Kabora with Bishop Jacob Lesuuda
