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 21, 2024
Spirit of the living God, guide us in the way of peace, keep us on the path of justice and the way of love for the whole of the human family.
We pray for those who weep today as our elections reveal winners and losers.
Our hope for a more inclusive and unified country remains our prayer and that the Gospel and the church bring healing and help to those most in need.
“A Prayer for Our Country,” email from the General Board of Church and Society, GBCS Board President, Rev. Allison Mark and Bishop Julius C. Trimble, GBCS General Secretary
November 20, 2024
Woke up this mornin' with my mind, stayed on Jesus. / Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
“Woke Up this Morning,” African American Spiritual, Public Domain
Every morning, God of days and nights, I need to wake with the goal of loving like Jesus. Every morning, despite the disappointments of the previous day, despite the disagreements within my circles of influence, I need to wake up committed to the cause of justice and inclusion, committed to the cause of inner transformation to help me see people as Jesus saw them. To love as Jesus loved. To have empathy, to listen, to care.
My mind wanders, I’ll confess it. Morning isn’t my best time. Maybe I need a song to sing as I rise that will help me refocus. Maybe instead of a declaration, I need a plea or a prayer. Help me wake up each morning with my mind stayed on the Jesus I see around me every day. Help me wake up to the Christ who calls. Each day, each morning. Amen.
Derek C Weber, November 2024
November 19, 2024
Good and gracious God, you invite us to recognize and reverence your divine image and likeness in our neighbour. Enable us to see the reality of racism and free us to challenge and uproot it from our society, our world and ourselves.
We acknowledge and lament the conscious and unconscious racism encountered by many black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities in our churches and society.
Give us the courage to stand unequivocally for justice and for truth. Help us to dismantle racist agendas and to transform unjust structures. Help us to love you with all our heart, soul, and minds. Help us to love one another as you commanded us to do. Help us to treat each other as we would have others treat us. Help us together to find lasting solutions to end injustice and inequality in our world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
“Taking the Knee: Prayers for Racial Justice and Equality,” Church and Society Commission of the Church of Ireland, page 1, https://www.churchofireland.org/cmsfiles/pdf/Resources/CASC/2020/Taking-the-Knee-Act-of-Solidarity.pdf.
November 18, 2024
When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.
LEVITICUS 19:33-34
GRACIOUS GOD, IN THE SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY
we pray that all refugees who are denied access to health care in this country experience your healing love and protection. Keep them safe as they journey to a new life, one free of persecution and harm. We pray, too, that the hearts and minds of those who oppress and marginalize others be healed and filled with your spirit of love and unity. We ask all this through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and in the name of your Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. AMEN.
A Prayer for Refugees without Healthcare, Catholic Health Association of the United States, https://www.chausa.org/prayers/cha-prayer-library/prayer/a-prayer-for-refugees-without-healthcare.
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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