Prepared by the Regional Women’s Committee of WSCF Asia Pacific
INTRODUCTION
March8thisknownasInternationalWomen’sDay(IWD)acrossthenations.Itisadayof
hope, a day of courage, of celebration for women who fought for equality, justice and
peace.Itisalsoatimetoreflectonprogressmade,tocallforchangeandtocelebrateacts
ofcourageanddeterminationbyordinarywomenwhohaveplayedanextraordinaryrolein
thehistoryoftheircountriesandcommunities.UnitedNations(UN)hasmarkeditasaday
forWomen’sRightsandInternationalPeacesince1977.
International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the
turnofthetwentiethcenturyinNorthAmericaandacrossEurope.OnMarch8th,1857it
markedthedaywhenoneofthefirstorganizedactionsbyworkingwomenanywhereinthe
worldtookplace,wherehundredsofwomengarmentandtextileworkerswentonstrikein
New York City protesting against low wages, long working hours and inhuman working
conditions. Again on March 8th in 1908, fifteen thousand women marched through New
York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labour.
Theyadoptedtheslogan“Breadandroses”withbreadsymbolizingeconomicsecurityand
rosesabetterqualityoflife.OnMarch25th1911,itmarkedthedaywhenmorethan140
workinggirlsmostlyItalianandJewishimmigrantsdiedinthetragicTrianglefireaccident,
an event that had a far-reaching effect on labour legislation in the USA. While on March
19th,1911manyralliesandorganizedmeetingssuccessfullytookplaceinAustria,Denmark,
Germany and Switzerland to mark the inauguration of International Women’s Day. The
March 19th date was chosen because it commemorated the day that the Prussian king
promisedthattointroducevotesforwomenin1848.Thepromisegavehopeforequality
but it was a promise that he failed to keep. The date for International Women’s Day was
thenmovedtoMarch8thin1913.
TheUnitedNationshasmentionedthatuntilnownowhereintheworldwomencanclaimto
haveallthesamerightsandopportunitiesasmendespitemuchprogresstoprotectand
promotewomen’srighthavebeenmadeinthesedays.
Womenrepresentalmosthalfofthe244millionmigrantsandhalfofthe19.6million
refugees as per the report of the Secretary-General at the UN General Assembly (2016)
entitled “In safety and dignity: addressing large movements of refugees and migrants”.
Governments and aid agencies are failing to provide even basic protections to women
refugees traveling from Syria and Iraq. New research conducted by Amnesty International
shows that women and girl refugees face violence, assault, exploitation and sexual
harassmentateverystageoftheirjourney,includingonEuropeansoil.Somewomentook
extrememeasuressuchasnoteatingordrinkingtoavoidhavingtogotothetoiletwhere
theyfeltunsafe.Today,50percentoftheworld'srefugeesarewomenandgirls[6].Yetas
per the UN OCHA (2015) World Humanitarian Data and Trends report, only 4 percent of
projectsinUNinter-agencyappealsweretargetedatwomenandgirlsin2014,andjust0.4
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percentofallfundingtofragilestateswenttowomen’sgroupsorwomen’sministriesfrom
2012to2013.
TheWorldEconomicForumpredictsthegendergapwon'tcloseentirelyuntil2186.
This is too long to wait! International Women's Day provides an important opportunity
around the world, for groundbreaking action that can truly drive greater change for
women.
TheRegionalWomen’sCommitteeoftheWorldStudentChristianFederationAsiaPacific(WSCF AP) chose the theme Hospitality towards Stranger: Remembering and
StandinginSolidarityWithTheRefugeesfortheIWD2017,asanexpressionandacallto
stand in solidarity with the refugees particularly the most vulnerable ones – women and
childrenrefugees.WeasaChristianfaithcommunitybelieveandupholdthatHospitalityis
thecorevalueofChristianity.AsJesussaid,“ForIwashungryandyougavemesomething
toeat,Iwasthirstyandyougavemesomethingtodrink,Iwasastrangerandyouinvited
me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prisonandyoucametovisitme………TrulyItellyou,whateveryoudidforoneoftheleastof
thesebrothersandsistersofmine,youdidforme.’(Matthew25:35-36and40).
Maythisliturgyinspireandempoweralltobeahospitablecommunitytoourneighbors!
GreetingsandWishingyouallahappyandmeaningfulIWDcelebration!
RegionalWomen’sCommittee
WorldStudentChristianFederationAsia-Pacific
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ORDEROFWORSHIP
Music:(musiccanbeplayedaccordingtoyourlocaltraditiontopreparefortheworship)
CalltoWorship
Leader:WegatherheretocelebratetheInternationalWomen’sDay.MayGod’sspiritand
Divine Wisdom touch us so that we are renewed to sing a new song of liberation for the
humanity
All: God, the Liberator, we invite you in our midst to realize your vision in our response
towardsliberatinghumanityforenvisioningatransformedworld
Leader:Wegatherhere,tohearthevoicesandstoriesofourneighbors-voicesofrefugees,
asylum seekers, migrants whose lives have been uprooted by war, famine, violence,
calamitiesandeconomicinjustices.Westandin solidaritywiththemintheirsearchforanew
life,anewhome,anewpromise.
All:Godtheenergizingspirit,igniteusandopenoureyessowemayseeyouinstrangers;
openourearssowemayhearandrecognizetheirvoices;openourmouthsowemayspeak
thetruthtotheworld;openandtransformourheartssowemayshareloveand
compassionwiththestrangersinourmidst.
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Song
ConfessionandAssurance
All: God,whomademeinYourimage,teachmetolovemyselfasYouloveme.
God,whomademeinYourimage,allowmetoshowthatimagetotheworld.
God,whomademeinYourimage,helpmetoseeYourimageinallthoseImeet.
God, who made me in Your image, teach me to conserve and protect all Your
creation.
God,whomademeinYourimage,bless,protect,andkeepmeandallYourchildren
safe.
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L:
All:
TheOnewhobreathedlifeintoourlungscontinuestobepresentwithus.God,who
has made us reflective of God’s own image, has forgiven us all and made us new
creations.Therefore,sinceoursinsareforgiven,letusgoforthwithloveandpeace,
honoring and upholding the dignity of all we meet, knowing we see reflections of
God’simageallaround.
ThanksbetoGod.
Song
1.WillyoucomeandfollowmeifIbutcallyourname?
Willyougowhereyoudon'tknowandneverbethesame?
Willyouletmylovebeshown?Willyouletmynamebeknown,
willyouletmylifebegrowninyouandyouinme?
2.WillyouleaveyourselfbehindifIbutcallyourname?
Willyoucareforcruelandkindandneverbethesame?
Willyouriskthehostilestareshouldyourlifeattractorscare?
Willyouletmeanswerprayerinyouandyouinme?
3.WillyoulettheblindedseeifIbutcallyourname?
Willyousettheprisonersfreeandeverbethesame?
Willyoukissthelepercleananddosuchasthisunseen,
andadmittowhatImeaninyouandyouinme?
4.Willyoulovethe"you"youhideifIbutcallyourname?
Willyouquellthefearinsideandneverbethesame?
Willyouusethefaithyou'vefoundtoreshapetheworldaround,
throughmysightandtouchandsoundinyouandyouinme?
5.Lordyoursummonsechoestruewhenyoubutcallmyname.
Letmeturnandfollowyouandneverbethesame.
InYourcompanyI'llgowhereYourloveandfootstepsshow.
ThusI'llmoveandliveandgrowinyouandyouinme.
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BibleReadingandReflection
The massive refugee movements worldwide have been a result of people fleeing
fromwar/conflict,extremepoverty/devastationintheharshsocial,economicandpolitical
realities of their own situations and countries. According to the UNHCR any refugee
populationhasapproximately50percentofwomenandgirls.Theyfacetherigorsoflong
journeys where they face official harassment or indifference and frequent sexual abuse –
even after reaching a place which is apparently safe. The UN report also show that 60
percentofpreventablematernaldeathstakeplaceinhumanitariansettingsandatleast1of
5refugeesordisplacedwomenareestimatedtohaveexperiencedsexualviolence.s
Sometheologianshavereflectedontheissueofglobalrefugeecrisisbyrelatingitto
theflightofMary,Joseph,andJesus.TheymakereferencetoMatthew2:13-18(NIV):
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Whentheyhadgone,anangeloftheLordappearedtoJosephinadream.“Getup,”he
said,“takethechildandhismotherandescapetoEgypt.StaythereuntilItellyou,forHerod
isgoingtosearchforthechildtokillhim.”
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Sohegotup,tookthechildandhismotherduringthenightandleftforEgypt,15wherehe
stayeduntilthedeathofHerod.AndsowasfulfilledwhattheLordhadsaidthroughthe
prophet:“OutofEgyptIcalledmyson.”
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WhenHerodrealizedthathehadbeenoutwittedbytheMagi,hewasfurious,andhegave
orderstokillalltheboysinBethlehemanditsvicinitywhoweretwoyearsoldandunder,in
accordancewiththetimehehadlearnedfromtheMagi.17Thenwhatwassaidthroughthe
prophetJeremiahwasfulfilled:18“AvoiceisheardinRamah,weepingandgreatmourning,
Rachelweepingforherchildrenandrefusingtobecomfortedbecausetheyarenomore.”
Godfrey Chigumira says “ Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2: 13-18) – the distance from
BethlehemtoEgyptisover200miles.Byapplyingthehermeneuticsofsuspicion,intuition,
and vision, one could say because of Herod, Mary left Judea in emotional agony, distress,
sorrow,andfear.Shesufferedonthejourney,strugglingforfood,water,andshelterinthe
dessert.
Does the manger scene of Jesus’ birth 2000 years ago cause you to think about
millionsofhomelesspeoplewhoareseekingrefugefrommultipleformsofsocio-economic
realitiesandpoliticaloppressiveregimeandanyotherharshconditions?Wheredid/dothey
fleetoandwhogave/givethemshelter?Whatwere/aretheharshsocio-economic-political
conditions?WhatweretheharshandbrutalconditionsthatforcedMary,Joseph,andthe
newbornJesustofleefromtheBethlehemmangertoEgypt?
DoestheflightandjourneytoEgyptrecall/reflectwhatmisplacedwomenandgirlrefugees
arefacinginescapingorhiding,inseekingforrefugeorexile?
(In solidarity with the refugee, we invite you (individually or group) to reflect on the
strugglesandchallengesofrefugeestodayandmakeacommitment,aprayerorwritea
letterfortherefugee.)
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IntercessoryPrayer
(Preparecandlestolightbeforesayingtheprayer)
L:WelightthiscandleandpraytoGodwhocallsusbynameandwereaffirmthatweall
arecreatedinGod’sownimageandlikeness.Mayourfaithinspireandmotivateustodo
justiceforthelowandtheoppressed.Todaywerememberandupholdthewomeninour
prayers as we celebrate the international women’s day this month. We especially uphold
those millions of women, girls, and children who are suffering and experiencing various
formsofviolenceanddiscrimination.
Response:
OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x)Whenwecallanswerus
OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),comeandlistentous
L: We light this candle to remember the refugee women and men, victims of human
trafficking,migrantsanyonetornawayfromherfamilyduetowar,violence,calamitiesand
economicinjusticesandsurvivinginaforeignland.Maythepeaceforwomenupliftthem
out of poverty, stabilize their governments, and free them from military interference into
theirhomesandlives.Maytheyfindanewhome,anewcommunityinanewcountryto
celebratelifetogether.
Response:
OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x)Whenwecallanswerus
OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),comeandlistentous
L: We light this candle to remember all the members of the World Student Christian
Federation and Student Christian Movements. Help us to continue to respond to the
challenges we witness in our world today. May you strengthen and empower the student
community to be prophetic in the present time. May you lead and guide this unique
federationtocreatetheinclusivecommunityandbecomingawelcomingcommunitytothe
strangers.
Response:
OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),Whenwecallanswerus
OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),comeandlistentous
(participantscanaddmoreprayersforthepeople)
Lord’sprayer(basedonIs46:3-4withthestructuretakenfromMat6:9-13)ByDekkerY.Mauboi)
OurMotherWhoartinheaven,
hallowedbeThylove.
Thymercycome.
Makethisuniverseapendulumoflife.
Pouruponusthisday
themilkuponThybreast,
nourishmentforalllife,
sothatwemayliveasnewcreation,
forgivingeachother,whatmore,
lovingandservingeachother
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onearth
Leadusgently
towardlove,truth,justice,andpeace.
Salvation,fulloftranquality,isonyourlap,
sohugustheretightly
inorderthatwemaybedeliveredfrom
corruptionandmisfortune.
OGod,Motheroflife,
allgoodthings,allgloriousthings–
lifeandlove–areThine
nowandforever.Amen
Song
Refrain:
Jesu,Jesu,filluswithyourlove,
showushowtoserve
theneighborswehavefromyou.
Neighborsarerichandpoor,
variedincolorandrace,
neighborsarenearandfaraway.
Refrain
Thesearetheonesweshouldserve,
thesearetheonesweshouldlove;
alltheseareneighborstousandyou.Refrain
PrayerforRefugeeandAsylumSeeker
ByPopeFrancis(PopeFrancisonLesbosPrayer2016)
Merciful God, we pray to you for all the men, women and children who have died after
leaving their homelands in search of a better life. Though many of their graves bear no
name, to you each one is known, loved and cherished. May we never forget them, but
honourtheirsacrificewithdeedsmorethanwords.
We entrust to you all those who have made this journey, enduring fear, uncertainty, and
humiliation,inordertoreachaplaceofsafetyandhope.Justasyouneverabandonedyour
SonashewasbroughttoasafeplacebyMaryandJoseph,sonowbeclosetothese,your
sonsanddaughters,throughourtendernessandprotection.
Incaringforthemmayweseektheworldwherenoneareforcedtoleavetheirhomeand
whereallcanliveinfreedom,dignity,andpeace.
MercifulGodandFatherofall,wakeusfromtheslumberofindifference,openoureyesto
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centeredness.Inspireus,asnations,communities,andindividuals,toseethatthosewho
cometoourshoresareourbrothersandsisters.Maywesharewiththemtheblessingswe
havereceivedfromyourhand,andrecognizethattogether,asonehumanfamily,weareall
migrants,journeyinginhopetoyou,ourtruehome,whereeverytearwillbewipedaway,
wherewewillbeatpeaceandsafeinyourembrace.
ClosingSong
DrawThecircle,drawthecirclewide
Drawthecircle,drawthecirclewide
noonestandsalone,
standingsidebyside,drawthecircle
drawthecirclewide.
Drawthecirclewide,drawitwiderstill.
Letthisbeoursong,noonestandsalone,
standingsidebyside,drawthecirclewide.
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Source:
CRWRCRefugeeKitLiturgy
DayofPrayerforRefugeesandMigrantsLiturgyNotesbyNewZealandCatholicConference
RefugeeWomen,UNHCR,RegionalRepresentation,TheUNRefugeeAgencyforCentralEurope,
http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/en/who-we-help/women.html.
http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/in-focus/women-refugees-and-mi grants.
UNHCRhttp://www.unhcr.org/en-us/women.html.
UNOCHA(2015)WorldHumanitarianDataandTrends,p.23.
UnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil(2014)Genderequalityandtheempowermentofwomenin
naturaldisasters,ReportoftheSecretary-General.
InternalDisplacementMonitoringCentre(2015).GlobalOverview2015,Peopleinternallydisplacedbyconflict
andviolence.
SereneJones,TheOriginalChristmasStoryIsReallyAboutRefugees,Dec21,2015.
http://time.com/4155651/christmas-story-refugees.
GodfreyChigumira,“MaryasanInspirationfortheEmpowermentofSouthernAfricanChristianWomen
DisproportionatelyInfected/AffectedbyHIV/AIDS”,athesissubmittedtoTheUniversityofBirminghamforthe
degreeofDOCTOROFPHILOSOPHYDepartmentofWomenandReligionCollegeofArtsandLawTheUniversity
ofBirmingham,December2011.Pages180-182.
http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/3307/3/Chigumira_12_PhD.pdf.
CharlotteAlfred,“WhatHistoryCanTeachUsAboutTheWorstRefugeeCrisisSinceWWII”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alexander-betts-refugeeswwii_us_55f30f7ce4b077ca094edaec
MoreLightPresbyteriansRetreat&MissionWeekendNewOrleans,LA,2006inWorshipResourcesforthe
WelcomingChruchMovementofInstituteofWelcomingResource
Coverpagepicturestakenfrom:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/holy-family-refugees-mary-joseph-donkey-334973072
http://www.theamericanmirror.com/tampa-fl-syrian-refugee-count-jumps-over-1300-since-last-year/
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-accept-syria-refugees-wolf-20151116story.html
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