Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 21:27—Acts 27:12

Reflection author
This week’s reflection comes from The Rev. Canon Dr. Michael Barlowe, Executive Officer of General Convention and Secretary of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. The Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe was appointed executive officer of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in December 2012 by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies. Canon Barlowe, who was the Diocese of California’s canon to the ordinary from 2006-2012, was, before his appointment as executive officer, an elected member of Executive Council and a deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of California.

Interview
We’re delighted to welcome to the podcast Betsy Ashton. Betsy Ashton is a portrait artist based in New York City. Betsy has had an interesting career both in and out of the art world, and last year decided to stop taking commissioned portrait jobs so she could focus on telling the stories of immigrants and refugees through her work. The first ten of these portraits that make up Betsy’s exhibit Portraits of Immigrants: Unknown Faces, Untold Stories opens May 17th in New York City as part of the Long Island City Arts Open Festival.The first full exhibition of all 18 Portraits of Immigrants will open in Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue next January, and then the exhibition is going on the road.
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Get ready for World Refugee Day!
Every year, World Refugee Day is observed on June 20. This is an important day to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of refugees to communities all over the world – and for us to deepen our commitment to the work of welcome and refugee resettlement.

This year EMM will release a number of resources: www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/worldrefugeeday.

We hope you’ll participate in or organize something to celebrate the day! It could be a small gathering, including Prayers of the People for Refugees and Displaced Persons in your Sunday worship, taking up a special Refugee Sunday collection to support EMM, host a film viewing, and so much more!

One thing you could do for World Refugee Day is invite others to join in the work of welcome by making a donation to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all are put to use to welcome our newest neighbors. Visit www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999.

And support refugee artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs! Like our theme song composer, Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at www.abrahammwindamusic.com.