15th April 2025

Abrego Garcia, is 29 year old.  He was born in El Salvador but lived for the past 14 years in the USA. He worked as a construction worker, got married and had three children.  The US government had given him protected status, and has not done anything illegal, he is not a gang member. However, he was deported by the US administration back to El Salvador where he is being held in a mega-prison.  The US admits that it made an error. The US Supreme Court ruled last week that the US administration must "facilitate" the return of Mr Ábrego García.  However, both president Trump and president Bukele  have refused to act to allow Abrego to come home to his family.

Loving God, we place Abrego into your care.  Our hearts go out to him and his family. Wrap Abrego's wife, Jennifer, and their children in your warm and loving embrace.  May they be upheld by friends, neighbours, and family.  May Abrego feel your presence with him in gaol.  May he be treated by the prison staff and other inmates with care, dignity, and humanity. We cannot begin to imagine the distress he and they are experiencing.  We pray that a way will be found so that justice can be done.  We pray for compassion and empathy among both the US and El Salvadorian administrations. May your Holy Spirit guide the lawyers in the work they can do.  In the name of Jesus, who himself was unjustly arrested and sentenced, we pray.  Amen.

St Stephen's Church in West Bowling, Bradford, Yorkshire, UK offers hot meals to rough sleepers. That's not unusual.  However, what is amazing is that they have installed a sleeping pod in the grounds of the church to provide homeless people with a safe place to spend the night. The £7,000 pod was paid for by another church and installed in 2021. It has just reopened after a refurbishment. The pod is intended as short-term shelter for each user - one-up from a tent and much safer. The cabin, which measures 2.4m by 1.8m (8ft by 6ft), has a bed, toilet and electrical supply.  Michelle, used the cabin earlier this week. She said: "I'm covered, I'm warm, I've got my own door that I can close. Everything you've got in here, it's so much better than being out on the street on a bench." She added that it is better than being in a hostel because they are full of drugs.  Charities Shine West Bowling and Hope Housing allocate the pod to those in need. 

God of life and God of love

you are the Lord of heaven and earth.

Angels and Archangels bow before you.

With them we praise you.

 We give you honour and glory.

We praise you Father God, creator of all that is.

We praise you Son of God, for redeeming the world.

We praise you Holy Spirit of God

for your work in the world revealing your truth,

renewing our lives

and bringing us to your eternal Kingdom.

We praise and glorify you,

one God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.