On Thursday, December 18, our community gathered for a moving “Peaceful Vigil” to “Ignite Our Lights” in honor of International Migrants Day. Held on the front steps and lawn of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington , the event was a call to action to protect migrant workers’ rights, promote fair treatment, and recognize their vital global contributions.
Sponsored by the Vermont Faith Communities for Immigration Justice, the vigil brought together people from diverse backgrounds to stand as one.
“Not as Charity, But as Family”
The evening featured a powerful address by Pastor Tendo Steven, who shared a deeply personal and spiritual perspective on the immigrant experience in our community.
Pastor Steven opened with a prayer that the energy of the night would not fade, but rather that we would “carry this spirit into our congregations, our workplaces, our neighborhoods.” He urged the community to shift its perspective, asking us “to work with immigrants, not as charity, but as family.”
He reminded us that “justice is not given, it is pursued,” and that when faith communities unite in this pursuit, they become a “beacon of hope in a world that too often chooses division.”
A Personal Testimony of Courage
Pastor Steven also shared the vulnerable reality of his own life, describing the anxiety of reporting to ICE every three months. He spoke of leaving his home to work at the hospital, never certain if he would return. Yet, despite this uncertainty, his message was one of profound love and service.
He described his work at the hospital as an extension of that love:
“I extend my love… to every patient that goes through my hands, irrespective of their color, irrespective of their age, irrespective of who they believe or what they do.”
As Pastor Steven concluded, “May the courage be contagious and may our love be light that guides us all.”
Let us heed his words and continue to stand for justice, dignity, and family.
