Litany for Men's Day

All: How good and pleasant it is when the "brothahs" live together in unity.

Leader: For the "brothahs" who love their wives and raise their children
For the "brothahs" who dwell in the house of the Lord;
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.

All: How good and pleasant it is when the "brothahs" live together in unity.

Leader: For the "brothahs" who stand on street corners or sleep in bus stations
For the "brothahs" who live in libraries and have no place to call home.
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.

All: How good and pleasant it is when the "brothahs" live together in unity.

Leader: For the "brothahs" who have PhD's
For the "brothahs" who struggle and make only D's
For the "brothahs" who drive BMW's
For the "brothahs" who would like to be a BMW
(You know — a Black Man Working)
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.

All: How good and pleasant it is when the "brothahs" live together in unity.

Leader: For the "brothahs" who teach
For the "brothahs" who preach
For the "brothahs" who drink
For the "brothahs" who think
That there is nothing for them in this world or the next;
For those who have hope and for those who are hopeless
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.

All: How good and pleasant it is when the "brothahs" live together in unity.

Leader: Whether in the jailhouse or the schoolhouse
In gangs or in covenant groups
Whether in health or sickness
In addiction or recovery
Let our community be a source of strength as they hold on.

All: How good and pleasant it is when the "brothahs" live together in unity.
How good and pleasant it is when ALL the people live together in unity!!!

About the Author: Marilyn E. Thornton is the Development Editor of African American Resources at The United Methodist Publishing House and the Director of Christian Education at South End UMC in Nashville, TN. This piece is in memory of Joseph T. Thornton (1923-2005), who loved his wife and raised his children and held on as long as he could.

21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: "Litany for Men's Day" Copyright © 2005 Marilyn Thornton.