All Faith Alliance for Refugees (AFAR)
First Presbyterian Church of Lansing
August 21, 2021 – 1PM

You are invited to attend a peaceful prayer vigil this Saturday, August 21, at 1PM for Afghanistan. Here is the tentative schedule:

1:00 PM – Prayer Vigil begins at First Presbyterian Church of Lansing (510 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 49833) with introduction and framing of silent prayer walk to Capitol building

1:20 PM – Arrive on the front of Capitol Building and faith leaders share their prayers

1:40 PM – Judi Harris speaks about action steps

1:45 PM – Conclude

A word from Rev. Alice Townley regarding the prayer vigil:

“Thank you for spreading the word on this. The prayer vigil came as a request of a young Afghan man in Lansing, Yusuf. He is the foster son of Judi Harris, who directs refugee resettlement in our area through St. Vincent Catholic Charities. Yusuf and other Afghans in our area are watching news coverage and hearing from their family and friends hiding in fear in Afghanistan. Judi Harris has been in the DC area helping to welcome and process Afghans arriving in the United States, most who were translators for the US government. Our hope is that with the prayer vigil, Yusuf and the Afghan community would feel seen and supported by compassionate ‘neighbors.’ You are invited to bring signs saying, “We love Afghans”. Also, after years of hoping to restore refugee resettlement in Lansing, STVCC has been asked to resettle over 100 refugees from Afghanistan. The challenge has been finding affordable housing to rent in Ingham County. Household furniture is also needed. On the AFAR facebook page, we have shareable posts about these needs. Thanks for being a community that chooses welcome.

~Alice

At University United Methodist Church, we affirm that as disciples of Jesus Christ, we are an open and inclusive congregation and welcome all persons into full participation regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic situation, age, ability, education, background and whether single or partnered.