Develop a Discipleship System
Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism
By Derek Weber
While the headlines may have receded, the sin of racism continues to be seen and felt on both individual and systemic levels. Dismantling racism is not a short-term task but a lifelong moving forward to perfection in love—to use founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s words. Therefore, Discipleship Ministries and other agencies and bodies of The United Methodist Church will continue to provide resources and guidance on how to become anti-racist individuals and churches. Please seek out the help you need to maintain your efforts to transform your community into an anti-racist fellowship.
The Worship Team of Discipleship Ministries believes, however, that such a change will not happen unless the whole process is bathed in prayer every step along the way. To that end, we will continue to provide daily prayers to help keep us all centered on the ongoing journey of transformation. From Monday through Friday, a new prayer will be posted here for your use as personal devotion, to share in your small group, or for use in corporate worship.
If you wish to receive these prayers each day in your email, the process for signing up is outlined below. If you would like to submit a prayer for anti-racism, click here to contact us. Join with us in this season of prayer and change in our denomination and beyond.
November 13, 2024
God of justice, in your wisdom, you create all people in your image, without exception. Through your goodness, open our eyes to see the dignity, beauty, and worth of every human being. Open our minds to understand that all your children are brothers and sisters in the same human family. Open our hearts to repent of racist attitudes, behaviors and speech that demeans others. Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial discrimination and their passionate appeals for change. Strengthen our resolve to make amends for past injustices and to right the wrongs of history. And fill us with courage that we might seek to heal wounds, build bridges, forgive and be forgiven, and establish peace and equality for all in our communities. Amen.
Catholic Charities USA cited on Prayer for Racial Healing” (March 12, 2019), Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community, https://isaackalamazoo.org/prayer-for-racial-healing/.
November 12, 2024
Dear Lord, protect and strengthen those whose hearts and minds are worn down by the struggle of navigating a racially-charged world. Help us to be mindful of that burden and care for each other well.
Church of the Servant, Prayer Calendar February 2023, https://www.churchoftheservantcrc.org/february-2023-anti-racism-prayer-calendar/.
November 11, 2024
Today, God of every nation, we give thanks to those who serve. We remember the sacrifice, the commitment, the surrender. We remember the families who have also given, and we honor their sacrifice too. May this day be one where respect and honor is given and received, even as together we pray for an end to war and conflict.
But let us also remember that the divisions that beset us as a nation are also manifest in the branches of military we honor today: promotions, postings, assignments contingent on color or gender or background. So, we pray on this Veterans Day for an end to such divisions and for respect and honor to be given to all with equity and justice. In the name of the one who ends division and calls for unity. Amen.
Derek C Weber, November 2024, https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/
Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries, served churches in Indiana and Arkansas and the British Methodist Church. His PhD is from University of Edinburgh in preaching and media. He has taught preaching in seminary and conference settings for more than 20 years.
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