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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

This week’s prayers are written in call-and-response style. One person reads the lines labeled “One,” and the group responds with the lines labeled “All.”

ONE: Jesus, we confess that we have inherited a faith that was used to justify
the theft of native lands and the enslavement of Black bodies. From this, our original sin, we ask for deliverance.

ALL: Forgive us for where we have failed to understand, Lord, and in your mercy, set us free.

ONE: Touch hearts that have been shriveled by generations of suppressed
empathy and eyes that have lost the ability to see siblings who suffer from systemic injustice.

ALL: Forgive us for where we have failed to understand, Lord, and in your mercy, set us free.

—Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, in Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice, edited and compiled by Britney Winn Lee (Fresh Air Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

When was the last time you or someone in your faith community lamented racism or prayed for forgiveness for racism? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
—1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

ONE: Come marchers, intercessors, artists, and prophets.
Come newcomers and those who have tried, tried again.

ALL: Get close, get close, get closer now.
Draw near, ask questions, sing songs, take steps.
We need you together.
Prayer by Britney Winn Lee
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The final litany from Rally was written by Britney Winn Lee in the beginning days of the global pandemic. This prayer reminds us that hope endures; goodness prevails; people surprise us; and love cannot, has not, will not fail. Watch and listen.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 1, 2022 5:37 am

    I grew up in a Vermont town that was Abenaki territory long before Europeans arrived. The Abenaki were not recognized by the state of Vermont, Recognition came and was taken away before it finally returned. I met a person of mixed descent and discussed Native American-European interaction. I have ancestors who arrived in 1624 so the possibility they were involved with the wars vs the Native Americans exists. My discussion was a part of my lament.
    The Vermont constitution prohibited slavery, but there are records of slaves in early Vermont history. Vermont became strongly antislavery, the underground railroad helped slaves reach Canada. Vermont fought to end slavery in the Civil War. Despite the positives, racism exists,
    African-Americans have experienced it despite being elected to serve in the legislature.
    More needs to be done to make everyone treated equally and fairly.

  • Julie Posted October 1, 2022 8:49 am

    The pastor of myy church has addressed the inclusiveness of our church, for all who wish to come. He spoke of our sharing faith with Jews, Muslims and even Buddhists. Again, African Americans are one group that suffers from racism but there are many others that are also subject to abuse based on their ethnicity, sex or sexual orientation. We must be mindful of all marginalized groups.
    Prayers for Ally and David and Scout, for Jill and her family, for Robert, Erich and the CCUMC.

  • Jill Posted October 1, 2022 5:46 pm

    I try to be very conscious of my attitudes of bias and racism teaching in an inner city institution. I want to say that I am not biased, but surely that is not truth. I ask for God’s help with this – that I would love and treat everyone equally. But I struggle with the apathy and lack of respect that I see in students. Lord, help me be better.
    Was able to do quite a bit of work outside today, maybe the last mowing of the year, trying to rid the pervasive vine that is ever present in my trees, getting up on the garage roof and trimming away branches. Trying to get some schoolwork done this evening, while watching some college football.
    Looking forward to church tomorrow, as well as cancer support group meeting.

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