Immigrant Solidarity

Prayer Vigils for Immigrant Justice

Due to COVID, the in-person Prayer Vigils are canceled until further notice. Vigils were formerly held when immigrants make check-ins at ICE. For the time being, these check-ins happen only via telephone appointments.

All vigils are 9:00am to 10:00am at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street, Manchester. Upcoming dates are:

  • January 7 & 14
  • February 4 & 18
  • March 3 & 17

Immigration 101 Forums

Leaders from GSOP can come to your local area to lead Immigration 101 forums. These 2-hour presentations give an overview of current US immigration policy, the many categories of migrants and describe how these policies affect Granite Staters.

Local Immigrant Solidarity Teams toolkit

Download the guide here.

Together, GSOP, the NH Council of Churches and other clergy have prepared a guide for forming an Immigrant Solidarity Team in your local congregation! This guide includes:

  • Recommendations for recruiting a team from within a faith community
  • A 6-week curriculum of Bible study and prayer to understand sanctuary and solidarity in a theological way
  • Resources to plan worship services in the style of “Holy Family: Migrant Family”

Sanctuary Church

Currently, there are three New Hampshire churches that have pledged to be a “level 1” Sanctuary. That is, they will physically house people who are in danger of deportation.

Churches that cannot make this great a commitment can pledge to be “level 2” Sanctuaries. That is, they will provide volunteer support to the “level 1” churches. Any “level 1” church will need about 5-6 “level 2” churches to sustain it with the needed volunteers.

Any church may sign the Solidarity pledge here (PDF). So far, about 25 churches and religious bodies in New Hampshire have made this pledge. If you, your pastor or your congregation signs it, please send it back to us and let us know!

Resources

Share the Journey, Catholic Relief Services

National Migration Week (January 7-13), US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Episcopal Migration Ministries

Does your church or denomination have resources to share? Contact us at info@nhchurches.org and we can post them here!