Liturgies and Laments for the Sojourner: Volume One

by Alicia Boyce, Heather Fallis, tamika rybinski

This book is a testimony to how God is both intimately involved in each of our lives, yet bigger than this globe we temporarily call home. As we travel to the farthest corners of the earth, there is nowhere we can go that God’s presence doesn’t go with us. The words on these pages are meant to be a companion on that journey— keeping our hearts ever moving toward the One who orders our steps. Written for those who have made their homes on foreign soil, Liturgies and Laments for the Volume One is a collection of prayers that creates moments of worship out of the not-so-ordinary moments of expat life. With liturgies for packing, culture shock, visas and immigration, language learning, homesickness, and other cross-cultural experiences, those living abroad will be reminded that they aren’t alone in their struggles and that they can find God’s presence in the midst of them. Unlike us, God is not bound by borders, time zones, languages, or visa stamps. We trust that He will meet you in these pages, wherever you are in the world. What others are saying about the " This book should be given to every new worker at their pre-field orientation. It gives words to so many things we all experience day after day while living and serving cross-culturally." — Matthew, ATCK and Member Care provider with 20+ years lived abroad " For any stage of life, each liturgy has something to say to those of us struggling to put words to our feelings. Even though I have lived abroad for well over a decade, these liturgies were exactly what I needed and brought me to tears with every sentence. " — Caitlin, expat for 16 years in Germany and England

" I believe this book is an invaluable resource for the Church and the sojourner. I found it a source of encouragement and direction of prayer for the many complexities that are hard to put into words while living cross culturally." — Jessica, expat for 13 years in Kenya and Iraq " It's the perfect prayer book for anyone who lives abroad, is thinking about living abroad, or loves someone who lives abroad. " — Clare, expat for 2 years in Lebanon " It has given me a deeper insight into hardships, longings, joys, and sorrows experienced by those living outside their own culture. It will help to form my prayers for them and those they are serving." — Rachel, close friend of several families serving overseas

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2023

Reviews

[Rebecca Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this within a month of moving out of my home country, and the prayers for almost every scenario were meaningful. They directed my focus back to the Giver of good things. As culture shock sets in, I’m going to be reading it again to guide my heart to the Rock that never changes.
10/10 recommend.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy for my honest review. This is a valuable resource I chose to purchase upon release because I wanted to have it on hand in its final form.

I like how relevant the prayers are and that each has a verse from Scripture. This volume is not just for newbies. These prayers are relevant to me even in 15 years of sojourning.

I really like that the breath prayers are woven into liturgies and you can just pray them on your own. That’s so helpful on especially busy days or to just continue keeping a prayerful disposition throughout the day. It’d be nice if the breath prayers were listed in the table of contents as well.

Ultimately, this volume is a friend that opens and anchors my heart to God. I found myself tearing up over words that resonated and moved my spirit heavenward. Our loved ones, organizations, and cross-cultural neighbors aren’t always the ones we can share certain burdens with, and that gets lonely. I’m grateful for this friend I can call on any time and consider it a valuable resource to keep a sojourner going.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liturgies and Laments for the Sojourner is a balm for the soul abroad. It reminds us that Jesus is intimately involved our life overseas, whether it's mundane or magnificent. This book is for anyone living abroad or preparing to go abroad. These prayers put into words the joy and frustration of cross-cultural ministry, while giving a sense of understanding that someone else has experienced this before. I cannot wait to read these words and pray these prayers again and again over the days, months and years to come. Thank you for writing this and putting it into the world!

[Cassidy Brunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. So, SO good.
Read this on behalf of a friend… It helped me to understand the specific pains and joys of stepping into foreign ministry much more than I did before.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough - I read a liturgy each evening and feel seen and known. Can’t wait for volume 2!!!

[Eva Burkholder · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live cross-culturally or love someone who does, you’ll want to get this book of prayers and laments. Each heartfelt entry gets right to the heart of real life struggles in a foreign context—loss of electricity, packing, unpacking, attracting too much attention, getting bad news in a foreign context—and gives words we can offer to our Heavenly Father. Beautifully written.

[Rebekah Barkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. Over the last few years, I’ve found that praying liturgies has given me words and an anchor for circumstances that threaten to overwhelm and upend me. This book is an absolute treasure trove for the expat. I had tears in my eyes multiple times as I read liturgies for those unexpected things of living abroad like “when there are ants in the sugar” and “when the neighbors are loud” and for “moving yet again.” This is going to be a valuable book that I’ll return to again and again.

[Katharina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from my dear sister and fellow cross-cultural worker, this is a book I’ll be returning to often. Some of the prayers bring tears, some laughter, some sadness, some joy. It was a privilege to sit in a workshop by one of the authors and experiment with penning a liturgy of my own.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

With prayers for ordinary and not-so-ordinary moments that come with living abroad, this beautiful collection is a great companion for expat life.
Loud neighbors?
Stumbling through a language barrier?
Struggling with comparison?
Moving (again)?
The authors have penned words to direct our focus to the Lord in these situations and so many more.

Cannot recommend enough for expats or those who love and pray for them.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I moved overseas this year, and I wish I had had this book as a companion from the start of packing.
I may have found it once already here, but it was full of gems that I needed as I processed the journey and starting year. I’m so grateful that this exists for others who will be moving overseas, and will be recommending it to everyone I know that is making that transition.

[Mackenzie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

These beautiful words are balm to the sojourners soul; balm to my soul. The liturgies met me in the depths of my heart and put words to my thoughts and feelings. It will be a place I continue to go back to for encouragement and reminders of who God and who I am in Him.

[Ruth Potinu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book speaking directly to some of the very unique situations that expats find themselves in. I love how these honest prayers help re-center the reader's heart on what truly matters.

[Lindsey Hoobler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this beautiful book of prayers. I cannot recommend it strongly enough for anyone living overseas. For a taste of the writing, you can follow @liturgiesforalifeabroad on Instagram, where one of the authors posts some liturgies. They have been so helpful for me during my transition back to the U. S. and also during Covid when living in China was really hard. The liturgies are so relatable and put words to things that I might not be able to articulate. I can’t wait for a second volume!

[Becka Trill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of prayers is so good! Highly recommend to those on the mission field - especially those who are new to their field.

This is a very short read but one that I will most certainly come back to often. I wanted to get an overall look at the themes of the prayers in the book in my first read through. Some of the liturgies didn’t apply to me directly where I’m at in life now and some hit the nail on the head. I will 100% be coming back when I don’t have words to pray and need a bit of encouragement.

I like how each prayer has a portion of scripture to study out further for each moment in life abroad. This book also does a good job at not just dwelling on the bad or sad of a situation but finding the “But God” flip side of the situation.

[Lundquist Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

As cross-cultural workers, there are times when we are frustrated, times when we are homesick for our passport country, times when we lose motivation, and times when we just laugh and move forward. From topics that focus on making a big decision to praying for local elections & passport country elections to the everyday mundane of going grocery shopping (which can seem like a big deal in a new location!), each of the prayers in this book can help oneself to refocus, give it all to God, and move forward.

I marked down one star for the 'breath prayers', which is described to 'inhale' slowly and deeply while whispering the first line of prayer and then slowly 'exhale' as whispering the second line of the prayer. Whereas I find this more of a New Age practice, the authors describe it as a "form of prayer engages your body and mind as you meditate on one or two lines of Scripture."

If you are a cross-cultural worker, you will appreciate reading prayers by someone who has been in your shoes and understands what you are going through.

**I had an opportunity to read this book before its' release.

[Kristin Coulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These prayers gave me words to communicate the thoughts of my heart and longings that I couldn't find words to pray for myself. As someone who has lived abroad, these prayers spoke to so many issues of my heart that I don't even know if I could've put words to. Each liturgy is saturated in pointing you to the God who cares, sees, and is faithful in every circumstance. The love of God and the hope of the gospel are central in these pages as they point us to the One who is sufficient in all things. If you are someone living across the globe from your passport country, you will be richly blessed by each of these prayers as you are given words to pray about so many of the common struggles and joys of living abroad. If you are someone who has lived abroad previously, these prayers can help you process and continue to pray through the things on your heart. And if you are someone who knows someone living abroad, these can be helpful for you to understand the cries of your family/friend's hearts, and would also be a wonderful resource to gift them. I would highly recommend this book!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book helpful in putting my feelings and struggles into words. When I have felt so isolated and misunderstood, I read these liturgies and thought, "Someone else has been through this? And feels this way?" The authors have done an extremely good job at touching various areas of the life of a missionary/expat/foreigner--whether you are a man or woman, single or married, with our without children. There is something for everyone in this book and I would highly recommend buying it as a gift for anyone who is moving out of country. After over a decade overseas, this book helped bring about a deep healing and peace in my life. 5/5

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think this book has nothing for you because you live in your passport country, you would be missing out on a treasure.

My family and I lived in SE Asia for 17 years, and these prayers resonated with me. Each of these prayers are written for real-life sojourner situations. These words are the ones you are looking for during difficult times.

But if you have never lived a day outside of the state you were born, there is something in here for you too. If you, like me, have returned home after years away, these prayers will be extra tender and practical. If you know someone who will be leaving on a sojourn soon, this book will be a lifeline for them.

[Charissa Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a sojourner is often synonymous with being an outsider. Yet, this book of prayer joins a community of hearts, across oceans and lands, in the presence of our Lord. The carefully chosen words for these liturgies resonate deeply with so many that feel like "outsiders," that it brings about the sense of connection and inclusion across many borders as we all come before our Father with similar experiences and laments.
I have already gifted this to 2 friends that are soon-to-be-expats. This would also be a great gift to those who pray for their expat friends and family, as it gives a vulnerable insight into our lives. Highly recommend!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Similar to the Holy Spirit's intercession on our behalf when we don't know what to pray, "Liturgies and Laments of the Sojourner: Volume 1 gives voice to the deepest, most personal experiences that unite expats around the globe and across generations. Whether you're feeling stifled in your attempts to articulate your own cross-cultural (mis)adventures, wrestling to find words to encourage a friend or family member living abroad, or have simply stumbled across this resource in your own journey to the nations, you have not found yourself pausing here by accident. Curl up with your coffee or tea, prayerfully thumb through these pages, and breathe deeply... inhale, then exhale.

[Tina Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would make a terrific gift for expats you love! For those who live between two worlds, having the somewhat unique opportunity to experience the joys and hardships of being not fully at home in either one—this book and all it holds is an absolute treasure. The writers have crafted beautifully words in the form of prayers, for moments when we have none. Somehow they have put onto paper the very pieces of my heart that I myself am unable to express. I know I will return to these pages again and again in prayer for months and years to come.

[Jordan Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re an expat living abroad, or if you have an expat in your life, this book puts into words what it feels like to uproot and move overseas. The prayers inside give the words to describe what the expat heart feels but the mind can’t express in words - the digging up and the planting of roots and the seasons of surviving and of thriving. They remind us that humbly and vulnerably coming before Jesus is where strength is found - the strength to continue on in this global sojourning.

[Tanya Minnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I am not an expat myself, I recommend this book left and right to all those I do know. The liturgies and laments in this book offer a carefully crafted prayer for many situations an expat may find themselves in.

My hope, along with that of three women who co-authored this gem of a book, is that it would be a source of validation to the hard moments, encouragement in the busy moments, and hope in all of the moments.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an expat for several years, I am so encouraged by this helpful resource. There is not another resource like this that I've seen and I am excited to share this with others who are overseas or moving overseas. Living overseas makes you realize how dependent you are on God and this book gives language to the longings in our hearts when we confront our dependence and difficulties of immersing ourselves in another culture.

[Elisa N · Rating 5 out of 5]

These prayers, written for all kinds of situations from missing home to terrible traffic to ants in the sugar, help me express the reality that I am experiencing, the emotions I am feeling, and the truth of God’s word and His character. They remind me to lift my eyes to the One who cares for me and encourage me to trust Him. This is a wonderful resource for global workers who want to grow in their relationship with God!

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely compilation of liturgies and laments. This can be read in one sitting or returned to time and again. As someone who has moved more in my adult life than I ever did as a child, and currently live as a foreigner away from my passport country and home culture, I found these words to give voice to things that I often feel, but am not always able to verbalize. These liturgies will be a welcome addition to my library and something that I will gift time and again.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, heartfelt prayers for those living and working cross culturally. Addresses many common situations and challenges of this lifestyle and gives words to pray in the midst of them. For me, more of a book to refer to in specific situations and times of prayer rather than reading through all at once.

[Hope Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is WOW. It is clear that these prayers are born out of personal experience and a deep desire to grow closer to the Lord in any and all circumstances. Life as an expat is an unique experience, and these prayers meet the wearisome sojourner where they are with words that express both intense emotion and steadfast reliance on the Lord. I would recommend this for any believer living outside of their passport county, and especially missionaries!

[Jana Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book of prayers

I really enjoyed reading, praying, and sharing entries from this book. The prayer “topics” fit with so many experiences in an overseas life. I love having the scripture references at the end of each entry. Highly recommend.

[TravelinReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever felt frustration in foreign traffic or found yourself among footlockers a few days away from an international move, then this is the prayer book for you.

I don’t come from a tradition of liturgy but these prayers and laments, I could have written myself (if I was talented enough). How can these writers know my exact joys and sorrows? Oh yeah! They’ve lived it and experienced it themselves.