Address God through daily prayer asking for peace and guidance about our continuing struggle to live out the vision of God’s kingdom. Acknowledge through your preaching and teaching our complicity in the sin of institutional racism, which denies the inherently sacred nature of every person. As you seek to lead your congregation through this weekend’s services, you may find the following liturgical resources helpful.
There are ample resources for community learning and exploration around racial justice online and through connectional resources to learn ways your church and community can be engaged in the challenging work of racial justice.
General Commission on Religion and Race’s resources on white privilege.
Subscribe to the “Faith and Race Podcast.” Season 1 features interviews with Missouri African American clergy and laity on matters of race and religion and has a companion curriculum for small group engagement.
Diversity Awareness Partnership offers in-person training opportunities on diversity and inclusion.
Questions about #BlackLivesMatter? Learn more about the movement here.
Discover how you and your community can best address violence in our communities. In the coming days, there will be prayer vigils and peaceful protests in and near your community that offer you a chance to bear witness to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s words that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” If there is not a vigil or prayer service near you, work with your ecumenical partners to offer one for your community. Explore what these United Methodist leaders suggest we might do to find our purpose in the midst of chaos: