Our Poet-in-Residence, Rev. Lucy Berry, explored what it means to respond to the Hostile Environment with welcome. Listen to her poems, and read some questions for further discussion, here.

A Chair Like That
Questions:
- What is the poem saying about different kinds of welcome?
- What do you think is meant by ‘poorly made’ and ‘splinters’?
- How can a welcome “bear what it’s meant to bear”?
If Parables Mean Nothing
Questions:
- What are the choices offered in this poem?
- What is meant by “tell Joseph to go home”?
- What are the “ancient ways of welcome” the poem refers to?
- What are the “loads” to do?
Waves
Questions:
- What are the first two lines of the poem making clear?
- What do you believe is the anxiety about Asylum seekers?
- Do you believe in the concept of sanctuary? Why?
Jesus-Under-the-Dirt
- Why is contamination such a significant theme in the Bible?
- In what way is it significant for us?
- How can this filthy, raving, sobbing person be Jesus?
Some Kinds of Spitting
Questions:
- Who is ‘He’? And what is He asking?
- What does the Bible have to say about welcome?
- Do Bible-people always live up to that?
- Is there a limit, or a time-limit, to welcome?

What is the Hostile Environment? Find out more here:
In December 2018 and January 2019, we explored what a welcoming environment for refugees and asylum seekers would look like through a blog series. Read the blogs here:
Read a text version of all the poems here: