Racial Justice Prayers of Reconciliation
Prayers Based on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Lord God, too often we get it into our heads that what we do and who we are is all about our achievement, our wisdom, our status, our position. We convince ourselves that we are good and others are bad,
that we are right and everybody else is wrong,
that to every question we have the answer,
that when things go awry it is always the fault of others—someone else is to blame.
When we think and behave like this, we find ourselves drifting apart from you and separated from others, often the very ones you call us to serve. When this is our attitude, Lord, we are of little use to you.
How easy it is for us to forget that it’s your grace that finds us and rescues us and sustains us and that through your grace, the Spirit of Christ empowers us to serve as his disciples.
Forgive our folly in insisting on our desires rather than yours. Forgive us when we rely on ourselves more than on your grace. Forgive us for choosing to see others with the eyes of human judgement, standards, and assessment. And teach us, by your Spirit, always to see each person we encounter and all those with whom we are in relationship with the eyes of Christ the Lord.
Grant this, we pray, so that we might set ourselves to the business and joy of reconciliation in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Clifton Howard
Assistant to the Bishop
Central Texas Conference
Fort Worth, TX
Sweet Jesus,
Let your love reign …
Let me have eyes to see, Lord, and ears to hear.
Let me have eyes to see everyone in your beautiful creation for exactly who you created them to be and to declare them beautiful!
Let me find ways to celebrate our uniqueness and not use it to degrade or demean.
Let me have ears that truly hear and honor the hurt and struggles of our brothers and sisters across the earth.
Let me be your ears, your voice, and your hands as I want to be part of the change that helps us all to move forward from the wrongs we have done to each other.
Let me answer the prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak your truth and make a difference wherever I am.
Let your love reign.
Sally Voelkert
Retired Elementary School Counselor
Member of Mount Vernon UMC
Trinity, N.C.
Loving and Compassionate God, we are thankful despite the circumstances or events in our lives and the community. We beg You to grant us strength because through them You strengthen us.
Despite these, we beg You to strengthen each and everyone, especially during this time. I pray that You will reconcile every race and tribe. May our origin, race, ethnicity, tribe, and orientation be not an obstacle for us to experience reconciliation.
Thank You because despite everything You continue to appreciate us; You continue to pour out blessings upon us that we can use for carrying out of our duty to Your beloved children. You continue to make us stewards of what we have at the moment.
That is why it is just appropriate that we praise You and thank You because You reconciled us and connected us, so that we can care for each other.
In the name of God, the Creator, of Jesus Christ our friend and savior, and of the Holy Spirit, who is our traveling companion and guide. Amen.
Reymond Dungao
Pastor – Chaplain at SPMCI
Philippines
This series of prayers was originally part of our Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge which took place in summer 2022.
To learn more about the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge and read the other prayers, click here.
A prayer for reconciliation with God and for renewal in Christ as we follow Jesus’s leadership through the power of the Holy Spirit:
O Lord our God, you made us in your likeness and gave us your son Jesus Christ.
O Christ our savior, by your cross, reconcile us across the barriers that divide men and women, young and old, people of different colors, social, economic, and political divides.
Holy Spirit, renew our hearts and lead us on the path of true repentance and reconciliation.
Today we pray O Lord our God, to be reconciled to you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Make us a new creation and help us live in Christ and for Christ alone. Forgive our transgressions, and through your great mercy and grace, bring healing to broken relationships and divisions amongst people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Amen!
Bishop Unda Yemba Gabriel
East Congo Episcopal Area UMC
Democratic Republic of Congo
Lord of the Peace, you who constantly invite me to enter into that newness of life,
I come to you acknowledging that you are strong in me when I am weak.
I come to you with a conflicted spirit,
confused by old patterns, customs, and traditions,
ways of seeing life so ingrained in me
that I often seem to forget that peace and newness
to which I'm called through you.
Today, I want that peace.
Today I want to be reconciled with my siblings,
those close to me, and those from afar.
Those who think alike, and those who don't.
Today I want to see your presence truly
when I see my fellow human beings
in the wide variety of your magnificent Creation.
Today, under your Spirit, I want to be built in my inner being,
to indeed be co-creator of paths for reconciliation,
ways conducive to the building of your kin-dom here and now.
Today, I want to see that gap between my siblings and I
be filled with your love.
And then, when I respond with arrogance, prejudice, and fear,
look at me in my fragility and heal me!
Like the psalmist, I implore, clean me oh Lord!
Restore in me the joy of your salvation!
Renew your Spirit in me!
And, as I commit to this task, sustain me!
Lift me up as an ambassador of reconciliation.
And, as I embark on this sacred labor,
while planting the seeds of your realm of love;
may your will be done.
May your Wisdom lead me,
and the potential of those seeds
transform me and the world around me
so we can fulfill that for which you created us.
The fruit of the healing balm of your Spirit
will restore us to your image
and make of us, the many with diverse gifts, one in you.
Here I am, my Master and Lord!
With an open heart and surrendered to your love.
Trusting in your grace and acknowledging the sin that is in me,
I intentionally reconcile with my siblings and myself,
knowing that in doing so,
I’m also reconciling with you, Giver of Life.
Here I am,
with my whole spirit longing to be perfected in your love!
In your grace and mercy, listen, Oh Lord, my prayer!
VJ Cruz-Báez
Pastor at La Plaza UMC
Los Angeles, California
Our dear and wonderful Savior,
We come to you with humbled hearts and minds; because Lord -- you know us and what we are going through, today, and always. You our Savior walked this earth as a man for 33 years and as our almighty God have seen all the atrocities, injustices, and evil works of humankind through the ages.
So now we can come to you with confidence because you have been there, and you know us. God, you were there when men, women, and children of Africa were chained and brought to this country.
You were there when black bodies were thrown overboard into the sea because the cargo was too heavy for the boat.
You were there when black families were sold into slavery; families split apart to make more money.
But we survived. With your help God, we have survived. Oh Lord from the beginning of time most would not listen, and most would not heed your call so God you sent your only Son to the cross as a sacrificial lamb to reconcile us all to you.
That ministry of reconciliation belongs to us all today. So, no matter what we have done, no matter what we have said, there is room at the cross for all of us, the former slave, and the former slave owner; to join in one accord as the adopted family of God and ambassadors of the word and message.
In the majestic name of Jesus we pray, AMEN.
Rev. Debra Mason
Diversity Development and Inclusion Coordinator
Western Pennsylvania Conference
Oh God, as we march on for justice, we still are weary, tempted by the siren song of complacency that promises rest but delivers death. Though we pray for justice to roll down like a mighty stream, we still drink the poisonous but familiar waters of white supremacy.
Oh Lord, remind us of our shared humanity in both suffering and joy. Teach us not to pour new wine into old wineskins, but rather to build a new world without the bloodshed of oppression.
Oh Spirit of movements past and present, help us discern when to listen and when to speak up, when to pause and when to press on, and most of all keep us going even—and especially—when we are tempted by complacency. As we dismantle oppressive foundations, let us also build anew. Death-dealing systems do not have the final word when we put our trust in You.
Rev. Shelby Lewis
Ordained Christian Church Minister (Disciples of Christ)
Vanderbilt Divinity School Graduate
