A Prayer for Racial Reconciliation: For the July 14 Synodical Day of Prayer

Synod 1968 established Sunday, July 14, as a day of prayer for racial reconciliation. This year, July 14 once again falls on a Sunday.

We call on members of the Christian Reformed Church to dedicate this day of prayer for a renewal of society through racial reconciliation, and to labor unceasingly to cause the light of the gospel of Christ’s love and peace of to shine upon all. (Acts and Agenda of Synod, 1968, page 18)

Prayer

God of every nation, tribe, and tongue,

We come to you as your people

United in hope that your love and peace

Will guide our steps,

And that the reconciling ministry of Christ

Will teach us to live together in harmony.

We repent of ever thinking that “our strength lies in isolation,”¹

We confess that we have allowed fear to guide our steps rather than love,

And have not “kept the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:3)

We acknowledge a history of racial and cultural segregation

That has reinforced false ideas of white European superiority.

In facing the terrible truth of ongoing racism and division in North America

And in the Church of Jesus Christ,

We cry out yet again:

“How long, O Lord, how long?” (Psalm 13).

“God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who has by thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.”²  

Christian love is in crisis, and we have not loved our neighbors as you command.

Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the cries of our brothers and sisters,

And “stand by people in any form of suffering and need . . .

So that justice may roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”³

We humbly submit ourselves again to your mercy and grace,

Knowing that in Christ, you have broken down the walls of hatred forever.

So, guide our feet, hold our hands, precious Lord⁴

God speed the day when bigotry, hatred, prejudice and injustice shall perish from the earth.⁵

Amen.

Further resources

• Belhar Confession
• "Does Our Strength Lie in Isolation?" (Rev. Reginald Smith)
• "White European Superiority Continues to Invade our Theology" (Rebecca Warren)
• The Office of Race Relations workshops and newsletters

¹ Marian Schoolland, from Children of the Reformation

^₂ James Weldon Johnson, from "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

³ Belhar 4

⁴ Thomas Dorsey, 1932

⁵ Ralph Mark Gilbert,1941  

[Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash]