Prayer for Healing from Racism - 7/2020

Candles placed at Kyle United Methodist Church on 7/19/2020 as part of the prayer vigil

Prayer for Healing from Racism

By Tanya Livingston
(As read at the "Prayer Vigil for Healing from Racism and Disease" on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Kyle United Methodist Church in Kyle, Texas.)

Today we come together to pray for the end of racism and to mourn those who have died unnecessarily at the hands of others. 

Past and present we acknowledge these horrific acts of violence and we say their names:
All slavery throughout time. 
Emmitt Till.
Addie May Collins.
Cynthia Wesley.
Carole Robertson.
Carol Denise McNair.
Michael Brown.
Freddie Gray.
Eric Garner.
Philando Castile.
Tanisha Anderson.
Tamir Rice.
Breonna Taylor.
Botham Jean.
Ahmad Arbery.
Terrance Crucher.
Oscar Grant.
Atatiana Jefferson.
Trayvon Martin.
Laquan McDonald.
George Floyd.
And so many, many others. 

We will not sit around and wallow in our sorrow, though, because we have been called to action by our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are called to acknowledge the truth, educate ourselves, show up and stand up and speak out for those being oppressed. 

There are many verses in the Bible that remind us that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, to take care of each other. 

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

This could be standing up to someone’s racist language, calling out misinformation, or changing racist mascots. 

We all play a part. 

Amen.

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Additional Photos from the vigil: