Pause for Prayer: JUNETEENTH

 

By the power of your love, Lord,
help our nation overcome 
    the bias that divides us, 

    the pain that comes of prejudice
    the bigotry our mistrust breeds...

 

Let us not pretend to you love you

while we mistreat and ignore, abandon and neglect

our brothers and our sisters

    one family of one Father,            

    one in Christ our saving brother,

    blessed by our diversity,

    all yours in our humanity...

In the depths of our hearts, Lord, 

help us overcome 

    our prejudice and bias,

    our racism and bigotry,

    our narrow-minded thinking

    and the ways we rush to judgment

    of those we're called to love...

 

Help us, Lord, to overcome 

    our pride and self-importance,

    our denial of the truth, 

    our undeserved privilege

    and our careless disregard 

        for the plight of those who suffer...

 

And deliver us from thinking

    that no such faults are ours,

from foolishly believing

    that all now live as equals...

 

Help us move beyond the status quo

   that keeps us from real change;

and free us from inertia's grip

   on what must move ahead...

 

Help us overcome

    what separates, divides and keeps apart,

    what keeps us all from being 

       one nation indivisible   

       with liberty and justice

            for each, Lord, as for all...

 

Grant us freedom, holy freedom, Lord:

    to love one another;

    to tear down walls of hate;

    to welcome in the stranger;

    to let go of our fear;

    to discern and speak the truth...

 

That's our prayer this Juneteenth, Lord,

help us work 'til we accomplish

    what we've not yet done ourselves,

    what we can't do on our own,

    what we'll never do without your help,

        your blessing, strength and grace...

 

Amen. 

 

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Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson 

 

 

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