Minute for Mission: Immigration
 Young members of El Buen Pastor celebrate Thanksgiving.
El Buen Pastor is a new church development in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Last year, with Thanksgiving approaching, Pastor Rosa Miranda, along with Mary Bolton and members of the steering committee, decided to introduce the holiday to the immigrant congregation. They wanted to share the uniquely American family holiday of Thanksgiving with their new Latino brothers and sisters to assure them of their welcome in North Carolina. They wanted them to learn about this day of celebration on which immigrants thank God for safe passage to a new land and a bountiful harvest and to experience some of the traditions of the day.
As the families arrived on Thanksgiving Day, the children made paper hats depicting pilgrims and Indians. At noon, forty-five volunteers served their 150 Latino guests before enjoying the feast themselves. Later, there was a visitor from the past: Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Colony, who told the story of the first Thanksgiving 375 years before.
As a thank-you to their Thanksgiving hosts, the following January the members of El Buen Pastor invited the volunteers who’d served the Thanksgiving meal to an Epiphany celebration. About fifty people gathered to share Rosca de Reyes, a round bread ring topped with dried fruit. Hidden in the bread were small, plastic babies. The bread symbolizes the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt to hide and spare the life of the baby Jesus.
Sharing cultural traditions in Winston-Salem churches seems to be the start of yet another tradition.
—Julia Thorne, manager, immigration issues, Office of the General Assembly
We walk, Lord, guided as pilgrims, with confidence that your presence gives us life. Guide us to new destinations and bless the brothers and sisters who join us on our journey. Amen.
2 Kings 5:1–14
If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee
PH 282
Ps. 30
Come Sing to God
PH 181
1 Cor. 9:24–27
Guide My Feet
PH 354
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
STF 2129
Mark 1:40–45
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
MH 351
Just as I Am, Without One Plea
PH 370, HB 272
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 19, 150 Ps. 81, 113
Isa. 62:6–12
1 John 2:3–11; John 8:12–19 |
