On Juneteenth, this past Monday, the United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) began a 6-week Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge. They invite everyone to participate. Each day they will post prayers to their social media sites that can be shared and they will call us to a challenge each week to put these prayers into action. The Prayer of Confession from Sunday’s service incorporated a prayer from this resource.
GCORR writes, “Juneteenth (June 19) marks the day in 1865 when U.S. federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure all African Americans were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed…”
“Our call is to take the Good News of Christ’s salvation, liberation, and release for all people into the world. Yet, systemic racism in church and society continues to impact our ability to be faithful followers of Christ…Let Juneteenth be a time when people of Christian faith – especially white Christians – recommit to, evoke, stand on, and live out the promises of God to deliver all people everywhere from bondage and oppression.”[1]
Go to this link to see the resources and fill out the Sign-Up Form as an individual on the left-hand side of the webpage to receive their newsletter. Or visit their social media sites for the daily prayers:
“May we be blessed by the words of the global church as we lament, repent, experience healing and reconciliation, claim the hope, and work towards liberation.” (GCORR)