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.
October 25, 2024
God of Justice that created all people, without exception in your image, liberate us from the Sin of Racism and Tribalism.
Strengthen our Faith to overcome the fear of racism and tribalism so we may gain understanding and realize the harmful impact racism and tribalism has on people.
Open our eyes to realize the dignity and worth of every human being.
Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial and tribal discrimination and their lament for change.
Open our hearts to repent of hate-filled attitudes, behaviors, and speech that demeans others.
Let us repent for not doing enough to speak up – to say, “No! That’s not right!”
In your mercy and compassion, walk with us as we continue our journey of healing to create a future that is just and equitable. Lord, you are our hope. Without you, nothing will ever change. Provide us the courage and passion to exhibit Christ-like love. Equip us to speak and act in love for all people and work in every aspect of life to eliminate all racism and tribalism.
Thank You, Lord, for your mercy and grace. We lift this prayer for all ethnicities, tribes, and nations to live in peace. Amen.
Pamela Hammond McDavid, Ph.D., Laity, Springfield, IL, Racial Justice Prayers of Repentance, The General Commission on Religion and Race, https://www.r2hub.org/library/racial-justice-prayers-of-repentance.
October 24, 2024
O God, you have created us and fashioned us uniquely,
endowing each of us with individuality of body, mind, and spirit to worship you.
We all have abilities; we each seek fulfillment and wholeness.
We also have disabilities; we celebrate that you miraculously created each of us.
Seeking shelter from the vulnerabilities that we all share,
we claim our promised place in your Household of Faith.
Through your invitation, affirmation, and love, you transform us.
Thanks be to you, O God, and to your Beloved Son Jesus Christ,
through whom we pray. Amen.
World Council of Churches (WCC), Week of Prayer for Overcoming Racism and Xenophobia, March 19 - 25, 2023, page 17, https://www.oikoumene.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Daily%20Prayers%20for%20Week%20of%20Prayer%20for%20Overcoming%20Racism%2019%20-%2025%20March%202023.pdf.
October 23, 2024
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” - Proverbs 29:18 KJV
“Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint.” - Proverbs 29:18 NRSV
God of Word and words, help us speak.
Give us words of vision, of the big picture, a new direction, a new hope by which we can embrace life in all its fullness, through which we can find a way to peace and justice and reconciliation.
Give us words of prophecy, of truth-telling, of confronting realities of how we have ordered our lives to the benefit of some and the detriment of others, the realities of how we have favored some skin colors and denigrated others that we might find a way to equity and community and joy.
God of Word and words, help us speak. With our words, but also our hands and our hearts. Help us speak your kin-dom into being. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Derek C Weber, October 2024
October 22, 2024
God of our past, present and future,
you created each one of us in your image and likeness,
help us to recognise you in each person.
As we pray for end to suffering caused by racism
lead us this day to walk with one another,
pray with one another and work together,
so that we create a future based on justice and healing,
where all can fulfil the hope you have for all peoples.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer from Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales for Racial Justice Sunday 2023, cited in “Prayers for Racial Justice,” Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, https://cafod.org.uk/pray/prayer-resources/prayers-for-racial-justice.
October 21, 2024
Holy Spirit, we are broken, our Earth and Her Peoples call for healing.
This day we call from around the World in our Mother tongues. Fill us,
Holy Spirit, with your blessings so that we may follow your mission of Love.
Holy Spirit, we are broken, our Earth and Her Peoples call for healing.
We are still living a Pandemic of health and climate crisis; personal and political chaos.
Many have died---help us live.
Many have lost family, home, job and country; every illness, death, anger,
destruction and discrimination fill our eyes and ears.
Holy Spirit, we are broken, our Earth and Her Peoples call for healing.
Send your Dove of Peace to descend upon our hearts.
May She fill us with peace, kindness, grace and love so we may work and
act with justice to include all your Peoples.
Holy Spirit, we are broken, our Earth and Her Peoples Cry for your healing.
“We Are Broken II,” Invocation, Boulder, CO. *updated from original-inclusive (6/7/20), 10-2024, Barbara J. Middleton, participant in the Mountain Sky Conference (UMC) virtual journey of daily prayer.
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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