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Asylum Seekers and Refugees When an alien
resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.
The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen
among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were
aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
Pilgrim Circle of Friends 27 for Refugees
The Pilgrim based Circle of Friends 27 is one of over sixty groups
established to provide a variety of support for refugees and asylum seekers, both in the
community and/or in detention and operates under the auspices of the Australian Refugee Association (ARA).
Members of Circle 27 come mainly from the Pilgrim congregation but a number are also from
the wider community and not attached to this church.
Anyone who feels that refugees and asylum seekers ought to be treated with human dignity and who
genuinely wants to help may become a member.
Enquries to Raelene Telfer 8358 0689 or Graeme McIntosh 8278 2025..
[updated 6 Feb 2010]
PAST EVENTS
Service of Thanksgiving
A Thanksgiving Service at Pilgrim for the release of refugees from detention was an unforgettable
afternoon. Three hundred people who share concern for onshore refugees met on Sunday afternoon
2nd October. The Thanksgiving Service was an uplifting event, the lighting of a candle by each
released person is imprinted on my mind. White doves, symbols of new freedom in Australia, were
suddenly released and flew off all too quickly. A Fellowship Meal was a time of great people,
food and enjoyment. Thank you Rev Adam Tretheway and Pilgrims for your enthusiastic
participation. Raelene Telfer - Convenor, Pilgrim Circle of Friends 27 for Refugees
A copy of the submission made on behalf of this circle to the Senate Enquiry can be
downloaded as a pdf file from the Senate webpage as submission no. 79 . . .
click here
A Welcome For Our Iranian Friends
A joyous gathering of about sixty people at Pilgrim Centre on Monday night (27th June) welcomed to
the Adelaide community fifteen former detainees of Baxter. We were joined by some members of the
Blackwood Circle of Friends. The Pilgrim Circle knows these Iranian men well from frequent visits
with them at Baxter Detention Centre over the past eighteen months. Convenor of the Circle,
Raelene Telfer, presented each of our Iranian Friends with a gift of potted herbs, as a way of
honouring them and as a token of our admiration for their courage in great adversity. We shared
a delicious meal with Eastern and Iranian flavours including flat bread, spiced meats, hummus
and figs. The evening was rounded out with several games of tunnel ball and 'corner spry'
with our Iranian friends exhibiting their youthful vigour! The welcome was followed by the
monthly meeting of the Circle, where the plight of our friends still in Baxter was considered and
future visits and settlement of others into the community were arranged. The Circle is open to all.
Some useful links.....
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