We are people on a journey 

Following where the Master walks 

We are people on a journey 

In the shadow of the cross 

What compels the face of Jesus 

Who protects our faithful guide

He who treads the road of service 

Christ the Lord the crucified 

We are People on a Journey

U.S. and El Salvador Won’t Return Man Who Was Mistakenly Deported

In an Oval Office meeting with President Trump on Monday, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said that he would not return a Maryland man who was wrongly deported from the United States and sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. “Of course I’m not going to do it,” Mr. Bukele said when reporters asked if he was willing to help return the man, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, whose case is at the heart of a legal battle that has gone to the Supreme Court. Mr. Bukele said returning Mr. Abrego Garcia would be akin to smuggling “a terrorist into the United States.” The Trump administration has said in court that the deportation of Mr. Abrego Garcia was an “administrative error.” In 2019, an immigration judge had barred the United States from deporting him, saying he might face violence or torture if sent to El Salvador. The Supreme Court last week ordered the administration to “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return. But in a legal filing on Sunday, the Justice Department argued that the courts lacked the ability to dictate steps the White House should take to return Mr. Abrego Garcia, because only the president had the power to handle U.S. foreign policy.

Lord God, we pray for the disregard of legal decisions and collusion between nations to imprison someone who was wrongly detained. We pray for Mr. Abrego Garcia that you would keep him safe during this time.  We ask that you would provide peace for all those who live in fear.

Climate crisis has tripled length of deadly ocean heatwaves, study finds

The climate crisis has tripled the length of ocean heatwaves, a study has found, supercharging deadly storms and destroying critical ecosystems such as kelp forests and coral reefs. Half of the marine heatwaves since 2000 would not have happened without global heating. The heatwaves have not only become more frequent but also more intense: 1C warmer on average, but much hotter in some places, the scientists said. The research is the first comprehensive assessment of the impact of the climate crisis on heatwaves in the world’s oceans, and it reveals profound changes. Hotter oceans also soak up fewer of the carbon dioxide emissions that are driving temperatures up. One disastrous example was the intense rainfall that caused catastrophic flooding in Libya in 2023, which killed 11,000 people. It was made up to 50 times more likely by global heating, which had raised temperatures in the Mediterranean by as much as 5.5C. That resulted in more water vapor and therefore more rain.

Creator God, we feat the supercharged storms that we now face.  In this moment, give us eyes to see the advocates, the helpers, the healers, and all those working to mitigate and adapt to the multitude of environmental crises. Give them strength to do their jobs well.  

Canadians freeze visits to the US over Tariffs

Canadians are changing their travel plans in light of President Trump’s tariffs. Tour buses to New York City are being canceled. Cross-border day trips for shopping are thinning out. And travel agencies are seeing a steep drop-off, too. Businesses in both the U.S. and Canada are bracing for even bleaker months ahead. Travel from Canada is expected to plummet 20 percent this year, costing the United States $3.4 billion in lost revenue relative to last year, analytics firm Tourism Economics projects. In New York’s North Country, which shares hundreds of miles of border with Canada, 66 percent of businesses are already experiencing a dip in Canadian bookings for the year, a recent survey found.

Father God, we know there are real people, families, and communities impacted by these tariffs, and this ongoing fight. We pray for our neighbors, on both sides of the border, that they might find ways to promote connection and neighbourliness in the midst of tension. Empower us, O Lord.

US attacks on Yemen killed 123 people since mid-March: Health authorities

The United States’ bombardment campaign in Yemen has killed at least 123 people – mostly civilians – since mid-March, health officials in the capital Sanaa say. Yemen’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that US attacks have also injured 247 others, stressing that the victims include many women and children. Civilians have been targeted, families wiped out, military sites destroyed and soldiers killed. US President Donald Trump has vowed that the Houthis will be “completely annihilated” under daily strikes by the United States military. Washington says its campaign aims to stop Houthi attacks against Israel as well as shipping lanes in the Red Sea. However, the Yemeni group has pledged to continue its military operations until Israel ends its war and siege on Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians. 

We pray for the families of those who have been caught in the crossfire of this bombardment, those who have no qualms with the Houthis, with the US, with no one, but whose lives have been forever torn apart because of where they happened to be born. In these times we are desperate for more of you Prince of Peace.  

Becoming (part of) the Answer to our Own Prayers

Finding Hope in Hospitality: A Faith-Based Conversation on Welcoming the Stranger

On May 15, from 7:30–9:00 PM EST, we invite you to a cross-border virtual gathering. In a time when refugee resettlement and immigration spark complex emotions and conversations across North America, Thrive, the Centre for Public Dialogue, Exodus World Service, and World Renew’s Canadian Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement Team invite you to a different kind of gathering—one rooted in hope, hospitality, and faith. Learn more and register today!

Canadian Climate: 2025 Federal Election Questions

This election resource gives background on important issues and offers questions for conversation with candidates. Review the points to be ready to engage with elected officials and their canvassing teams leading up to the next election.