We must check our own biases, our own privileges, and not “other” people who are different.
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
Dear God of beauty,
We give thanks to you for creating each one of us in your image.
We give thanks to you for celebrating our differences and our dignity.
We acknowledge that we have not lived up to your dreams.
Instead of honouring each other’s dignity, we use race to belittle one another.
Instead of learning about each other’s differences, we hurry to judge.
Our subtle and not-so-subtle ignorance and indifference to racism
has harmed those who bear the stigma of race.
Give us perspective to notice patterns of exclusion and discrimination.
Grant us spirits to listen to those who are impacted by myriad pricks, stabs, bullets, and bombs of racism.
Grant us wisdom to notice interlocking oppressions of racism.
Grant us minds to discern and detect the complexity of racism.
Grant us words to utter truth in a form of repentance.
Grant us bodies to move in and resist in a form of solidarity.
Grant us openness to learn new insights that affirm, respect, and liberate.
Grant us humility to unlearn things that oppress, exclude, and discriminate.
Grant us hearts to open and relearn old wisdom from our ancestors.
Send your wind (Ruah) and blow away the toxicity of racism in all its forms—
Pour out your Spirit (Ruah) of justice and love on our communities,
so that racism would not poison us or divide us any longer.
Transform us and help us build an anti-racist world and live out your vision.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Congregational Responses
- May is Asian Heritage Month. In her video, HyeRan reminds us that Asia is a large and diverse continent that is home to many languages and cultures; it is not at all homogeneous. How might you intentionally highlight some of this diversity during Asian Heritage Month, with your whole congregation? Are there ways you could build relationships with specific Asian community groups outside your congregation? How might you continue to highlight resources from diverse Asian communities not just in May but also throughout the year?
- HyeRan challenges the incorrect assumption that all racialized peoples, and all Koreans, are homophobic. She names that as a racist assumption. She also points out that some members of her former congregation were queer Koreans. Korean Rainbow United is a network of LGBTQIA+ Korean Canadians and allies. Explore some of their resources and videos. What new insights have you gained from this exploration? Were any of your assumptions challenged or changed?
Credits
- Prayer: HyeRan Kim-Cragg
- Congregational responses: Adele Halliday
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