My prayer is simple: That one day no one will have to wonder if they are welcome in all moments of life.
Deepening Our Engagement
A 1-minute version of the video is available on YouTube. Consider linking to it from your church website, e-newsletter, or social media.
Prayer
O God of Justice, God of Mercy,
we come to you with hearts weighed down by stories we wish were not true.
We lift up every soul who has faced the sting of prejudice,
every child who wonders why they are left out,
every parent who carries the burden of explaining a world not yet ready for love.
We pray for every person whose skin, language, or identity
has made them a target of fear, of exclusion, of hate.
We pray for the streets, the schools, the homes, the nations
where racism hides in shadowed corners and in whispered words,
where injustice is normalized and love is challenged.
O God, break the chains of hatred that bind us,
tear down walls of fear and indifference.
Let rivers of your justice flow through our cities,
washing away centuries of lies, lifting every soul to dignity.
We pray for the nations of the world,
for every land that has ignored injustice,
for every government, every institution, every home, every heart
that has tolerated prejudice instead of challenging it.
O God, let your Spirit ignite in us a fire that cannot sleep,
a fire that will call out racism wherever it hides,
and remind us that we are all your children,
all beloved, all worthy of love, dignity, and freedom.
Do not let us leave this place unchanged, O Lord.
Let us rise as your body in a hurting world.
Let us be bold, let us be brave, let us be love in action,
until every child can live freely, every voice is heard, every heart is free,
and your kingdom of justice and peace is made clear in our midst.
Amen.
Congregational Responses
- Daniel reflects that some of the Black children in his church experienced being rejected by other children. Studies have shown that children are aware of racial differences by the age of three, and understandings of racism soon after. Consider ways that your community of faith can teach explicitly about racial justice. The United Church’s I Am a Changemaker: Teaching Anti-Racism with Children is one resource you could use. Another is the blog “Hard Lessons of Racism Begin at a Young Age.” How might your congregation teach anti-racism with children?
- Daniel shares about culture and customs, and also not always feeling welcome. The United Church’s intercultural vision explores culture and welcome. What might you find in the vision that resonates with you and your community?
Credits
- Prayer: Daniel Addai Fobi
- Congregational responses: Adele Halliday
Get these resources plus worship prompts and children’s activities in one free downloadable zip file by registering on CHURCHx.