Compassionate God,
Thank you for stories,
stories of compassion and care,
stories of vulnerability and healing,
stories of discomfort and hope and love.
As we find parts of ourselves reflected in our biblical stories, may we always know that we are part of your story and the story of the church in the world.
May we always know that we are loved by you, God.
It is you, God, who gather us together as community.
Help us be a transformed church together.
Help us be people who reflect on ourselves and our place,
who reflect on you and your love,
and who reflect your love into the world.
God, we pray for people among us in our churches,
people who are living with pain or wounds or racial trauma.
May our churches become spaces of healing and spaces of belonging.
May your Spirit inspire us
to co-create churches where all voices are heard,
Indigenous and racialized,
refugees and settlers,
young and old,
people on the margins and people in the centre of privilege,
people of all genders and identities,
people who have been excluded and people searching for a place to belong.
Help us at times to pause and to really listen to one another and remember our unity in Christ.
May our churches be faithful ones, communities of disciples following in the ways of Jesus and helping to share love of neighbour and world.
God who is ever near,
help us to learn to be companions with one another along this life journey.
May we be present with one another as you are present with us
This we pray in faith,
Amen
—by Adele Halliday, originally published for 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism in 2025