Worship Resources for Black History Month 2025

February is Black History Month, an observance that began in the United States and Canada in 1976. African American Methodists have made significant contributions to the church and society for centuries, yet so many of their stories and voices have been lost, ignored, or forgotten over the years. We encourage worship planners to approach Black History Month as an opportunity to infuse worship with liturgies, songs, stories, and images from the African American community. Below you will find resources meant to help you and your congregation recognize and lift up Black voices and communities whose prophetic, encouraging, and persevering faith and theology map a road toward liberation and flourishing for all God’s children on earth as it is in heaven.

Hymns

• United Methodist Hymnal Resources for Black History Month
• Black History Month: Freedom Songs
• History of Hymns: "We Shall Overcome"
• History of Hymns: "Fix Me, Jesus"
• History of Hymns: "When the Saints Go Marching In"
• History of Hymns: "Wade in the Water"
• Lift Every Voice: A Celebration of Song from the Black Church Experience

Liturgies

• Black History Month Liturgy Resources
• Collection of Prayers for Black History Month
• The Great Thanksgiving for Black History Month

Worship Series

• Plenty Good Room! A Black History Month Worship Series

Additional Resources

• Multigenerational Resource for Black History Month
• 29 Ways You Can Participate in Black History Month
• Living the Gospel: Rev. James Lawson’s Legacy and GCORR’s Call to Build the Beloved Community

Black History Month Celebration from The Africana Worship Book, Year A

Valerie Bridgman

Introit

“I Love the Lord,” (sung by psalmist) #176 Zion Still Sings (ZSS)

Call to Worship

One: The God who loves us calls us to worship

Many: We love the God of all creation, and gladly we come with songs of welcome and raise

“Welcome into this Place” #114 African American Heritage Hymnal (AAHH), #144 (ZSS)

“Amen, Siakudumisa “ (Xhosa melody, South Africa) # 122 (AAHH), #2067 (TFWS)

Litany of Affirmation (based on Psalm 124)

One: If the LORD had not been on our side—
Many: Let all the people say, if the LORD had not been on our side
One: If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say—
Many: If the LORD had not been on our side when we were attacked, when anger flared like a flash fire against us.
One: If the LORD had not been on our side, our enemies would have swallowed us alive.
Many: Our ancestors would have all perished in the Middle Passage.
One: Our ancestors would have all died in slavery in the Americas
Many: If the LORD had not been on our side—let all the people say—if the Lord had not been on our side, the flood would have engulfed us.
One: If the LORD had not been with us, the torrent would have swept us into the seas; the raging waters would have swept us away.
Many: Praise the LORD who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
One: Praise the LORD, we have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare.
Many: Praise the LORD, the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
One: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
Many: God is our help, the maker of heaven and earth.
ALL: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

Prayer of Confession (unison)

Stony the road we have walked, and yet we forget our footsteps. We have too often not honored the faith of our foreparents. We have too often strayed from the righteous path. We have too often been drunk on the wine of the world and not lived out the radical gospel of service and peace. We have too often lived in division and sin. Forgive us, O God. Call us back to our heritage; back to you.

Assurance of Pardon

Christ is our peace and has torn down every barrier between us and heaven; between us and all humanity. He has broken down these barriers that separate by his life and has built us up into one body in God by the Spirit. Whoever repents and believes, he has promised reconciliation and peace. Let us live as people reconciled. Amen

Pass Signs of Peace and Reconciliation

One: Since we have been reconciled, let us share the peace that has been given us in grace. May the peace of God be with you
Many: And also with you

Music: “I Need You to Survive” by Hezekiah Walker

Special Music

The Word Spoken

Affirmation of Faith (unison)

(In response to the challenge and encouragement we have received, let us stand and declare what we most surely believe)

I believe in God, who formed people of every nation, tribe, and language and calls the whole earth to love and service
I believe this same God loves color and character; ethnicity and diversity. I believe in the God of Harriet Tubman

Frederick Dougla
Richard Allen
Jarena Lee
Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Mahalia Jackson
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Fannie Lou Hammer

(Insert the names of local and other heroes and sheroes of faith)

And African American (or African diasporan/African) ancestors and believers who paved the way in faith, leaning on the Lord

I believe in Jesus Christ, who came as an ethnic Jew to call people of all races to Abba, parent of us all.

I believe in the Spirit of God, who works in and through
the gifts of peoples of all races and tongues and who infuses African Americans (or African diasporan/African) with prophetic and anointed gifts for the whole church

I believe in the community of faith, from many grains, but now one loaf in solidarity with God, Three-in-One, who stands with poor and disenfranchised people throughout the world.

I believe in God’s promise to finally triumph over all evils, from racism to sexism, global and local, and who will establish a reign of justice and peace that will have no end.

Prayers for the People

Music: “Thank you, Lord” #84 (United Methodist Hymnal)

(Please continue to hum as the intercessor lifts our burdens before God.)

Benediction