Develop a Discipleship System
Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism
By Derek Weber
While the headlines may have receded, the sin of racism continues to be seen and felt on both individual and systemic levels. Dismantling racism is not a short-term task but a lifelong moving forward to perfection in love—to use founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s words. Therefore, Discipleship Ministries and other agencies and bodies of The United Methodist Church will continue to provide resources and guidance on how to become anti-racist individuals and churches. Please seek out the help you need to maintain your efforts to transform your community into an anti-racist fellowship.
The Worship Team of Discipleship Ministries believes, however, that such a change will not happen unless the whole process is bathed in prayer every step along the way. To that end, we will continue to provide daily prayers to help keep us all centered on the ongoing journey of transformation. From Monday through Friday, a new prayer will be posted here for your use as personal devotion, to share in your small group, or for use in corporate worship.
If you wish to receive these prayers each day in your email, the process for signing up is outlined below. If you would like to submit a prayer for anti-racism, click here to contact us. Join with us in this season of prayer and change in our denomination and beyond.
September 28, 2022
O Lord, you are a God of justice –
may we share your passion for justice,
which can be seen throughout the Bible.
By the power of your Holy Spirit
enable us to stand up for justice
and stand against intolerance.
Thank you that you love each person,
made in the image of God.
Change our hearts to see others as you do.
Allow our hearts to break over the sin of racism,
and our lament to turn into righteous action.
Amen.
The #CandleOfJustice Prayer – CTBI’s Director of Inclusion Richard Reddie, and CTE’s Principal Officer for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multi-cultural Relations Shermara Fletcher, Church of England, Churches Together in England, “Daily Prayers for Racial Justice,” https://cte.org.uk/daily-prayers-for-racial-justice.
September 27, 2022
Battered, Broken, Betrayed.
I stand Before you
Between the lines
Breathe on me Breath of God
Because I have Betrayed
My Brother and sister
By my silence
Breathe on me Breath of God
But what is Breath
when it is stolen
Humanity Beyond recognition
Buried in Blood
Bring us transformation
Beauty for Brokenness
Expose me for my blindness
Breathe on me the breath to see
Be Brave and Bold
Beyond what others can see
So when I can’t Breathe
God, Breathe on me
When I cannot see my Betrayal
Bring me to the light
I Beg for the wisdom to Be Better
Bless me with the strength
to never stop Becoming
Beyond the patience to listen
Bring me into action
I can’t Breathe
So God, Breathe through me
"Breathe on M", by Leah Wenger, Mennonite Church USA, https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menno-snapshots/lament-violence-of-racism.
September 26, 2022
God of love,
Hear our prayers for the church.
God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world: For peace and unity across barriers of language, color, and creed; for elected and appointed leaders, that they would serve the common good. Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love.
Excerpted from “Prayers of the People,” The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee, https://dioet.org/beloved-community-prayers-liturgy.
Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries, served churches in Indiana and Arkansas and the British Methodist Church. His PhD is from University of Edinburgh in preaching and media. He has taught preaching in seminary and conference settings for more than 20 years.
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