Romans 12:10, 15 “Be devoted to one another in love. Outdo one another in showing honor… Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Questions for Further Reflection:
How and what are you feeling after your time in the prayer space?
What came to your mind when you imagined a reconciled, healed, and restored Ferguson/St. Louis?
What was challenging for you to engage with? Where did you experience healing or the freedom to be honest?
Was there a particular image or story that has stayed on your mind?
Far too often, passivity has been a marker of the church. How do the practices of lament and hope help us resist passivity and move towards action?
How can we as a church more holistically embody the practices of lament and hope?
A Prayer of Confession and Help:
Heavenly Father,
We acknowledge your eternal goodness and the gracious covenant you have established with us. It is not our own righteousness that has brought us into this relationship but the righteousness of Christ, covering us and restoring us to our purpose as image bearers chosen to reflect your glory.
We grieve over how individuals who bear your image and likeness are subjected to abuse. We lament the discrimination and denial of dignity experienced by those in America who have been marginalized, not only by those distanced from you but even by those who declare Jesus as Lord. Regrettably, the church has fallen short in taking action, speaking out against and publicly or privately condemning and lamenting racism in any form toward any individual or group. This racism is evident in acts of antisemitism, ethnic hate, and immigrant hate. We lament racism in both personal and structural contexts.
We humbly pray for healing, unity, and justice. May your love permeate our hearts and communities, transforming us into reconciliation agents and advocates for equality. Grant us the strength to confront and dismantle the structures that perpetuate discrimination and grant us the courage to stand against racism in all its forms.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Questions for Further Reflection:
How and what are you feeling after your time in the prayer space?
What came to your mind when you imagined a reconciled, healed, and restored Ferguson/St. Louis?
What was challenging for you to engage with? Where did you experience healing or the freedom to be honest?
Was there a particular image or story that has stayed on your mind?
Far too often, passivity has been a marker of the church. How do the practices of lament and hope help us resist passivity and move towards action?
How can we as a church more holistically embody the practices of lament and hope?
A Prayer of Confession and Help:
Heavenly Father,
We acknowledge your eternal goodness and the gracious covenant you have established with us. It is not our own righteousness that has brought us into this relationship but the righteousness of Christ, covering us and restoring us to our purpose as image bearers chosen to reflect your glory.
We grieve over how individuals who bear your image and likeness are subjected to abuse. We lament the discrimination and denial of dignity experienced by those in America who have been marginalized, not only by those distanced from you but even by those who declare Jesus as Lord. Regrettably, the church has fallen short in taking action, speaking out against and publicly or privately condemning and lamenting racism in any form toward any individual or group. This racism is evident in acts of antisemitism, ethnic hate, and immigrant hate. We lament racism in both personal and structural contexts.
We humbly pray for healing, unity, and justice. May your love permeate our hearts and communities, transforming us into reconciliation agents and advocates for equality. Grant us the strength to confront and dismantle the structures that perpetuate discrimination and grant us the courage to stand against racism in all its forms.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.