A Worship gathering of hope: Loving God & One Another

We have come burdened by the weight of injustice and racial disparity

God lift us up, be our strength and our guide

We have come as the “walking wounded” in need of healing from hurts we have felt

and givenGod, heal us,

be our strength and our guide

We have come searching, confused, and not knowing all the answers

God, give us clarity and calm our spirits as we search for your answers

We have come for understanding of our differences, our sameness and our

uniquenessGod, open our minds and hearts

to new truths

We have come to honor the people who have labored before us, trying to move us

a beloved communityGod, help us to remember and be our strength and our guide

We have come to strengthen each other, having felt all alone in our desire for

reconciliationGod, bind us together,

be our strength and our guide

We have come longing for the beauty of rainbow worship, where we are all viewed

as your childrenGod, grant us the desires of our heart,

be our strength and our guide

We have come hungry for the “bread of peace”

Bread of Heaven, feed us until we want no more

We have come so that we won’t forget that racism yet exists, even in our churches

God, help us to remember and learn from our mistakes, be our strength and our guide

We have come to learn from each other, so that our work won’t be in vain

God teach us thy ways, as we share our gifts

We have come to prepare ourselves to work

God, renew our hope and persuade us to work while it is day

ALL: God, we pray for all who have assembled here and for people

throughout the world who desire racial reconciliation.

Help us to know that your judgment will always start with the house of God,

therefore the church must take the lead.

Give us the strength to move forward and become true ambassadors,

instruments of unity and peace. Transform us and mold us as

we endeavor to “heal the land.” Creator God, Sustainer God, God of Justice and Light, be our strength and our guide.

Amen.

Source: Rev. Renee Williams-Thomas December 2008

Invocation &Centering Prayer

Bind us together, Lord;Bind us together;

With cords that cannot be broken.Bind us together, Lord;

Bind us together;Bind us together with love.

There is only one God.There is only one King.There is only one Body.

That is why we sing.

Bind us together, Lord;Bind us together;

With cords that cannot be broken.Bind us together, Lord;

Bind us together;Bind us together with love.

Made for the glory of GodPurchased by His precious SonBorn with the right to be cleanFor Jesus the victory has won

Bind us together, Lord;Bind us together;

With cords that cannot be broken.Bind us together, Lord;

Bind us together;Bind us together with love.

You are the family of God.You are the promise divine.

You are God's chosen desire.You are the glorious new wine.

Bind us together, Lord;Bind us together;

With cords that cannot be broken.Bind us together, Lord;

Bind us together;Bind us together with love.

3434Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

3535One of them, an expert in the One of them, an expert in the law,tested him with this question: law,tested him with this question:

3636“Teacher, which is the greatest “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”commandment in the Law?”

Matthew 22: 34 – 40 (NIV)Matthew 22: 34 – 40 (NIV)

3737Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your with all your soul and with all your mind.’ mind.’ 3838This is the first and This is the first and

greatest commandment. greatest commandment. 3939And And the second is like it: ‘Love your the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ neighbor as yourself.’ 4040All the All the Law and the Prophets hang on Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”these two commandments.”

Response To the wordAdapted from Common Prayer, a liturgy for ordinary radicals © 2010

by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove & Enuma Okoro

In the name of the divine Trinity, let us pray:

God you have called us into being through love.

You have joined us one with another in love.

How good and pleasant it isWhen your people dwell together

in unity.

Shine your light upon your peopleThat we can see the glory of

eternal life.

Grant each one here committed to the work of racial justice the

strength to carry your blessing from this place to the next.

May we be at home in any place, with any people

For all of creation is yours.

May the lamp of your wordGuide our feet on the unsure path

ahead.Our lives are but a breath,

But our breaths are drawn from your divine Spirit.

You have created us as walking paradoxes. Specks of dust and

divine-image bearers – all of us.

We are constantly restless Until we rest in you.

Grant us all a deeper fullness of being and spirit

As we enter into a time of holy conversation one with another.

Grant us stamina and skill and deep love

For the God we see in one another amidst this holy

conversation.

Transform us – our words, our actions, our intentions –

So that we bear your grace and mercy with one another.

Go in the peace of Christ to love and serve, to talk and to share, to risk and to extend grace.

Amen.

Re-Cap

1. Safe Spaces for Barrier Breaking and Bridge Building

2. The UMC as a Transformation Agent with the Marginalized

3. Stronger Community Relationships to Dismantle the Pre-School to Prison Pipeline.

Resources…Beginning to Fill the Toolbox

COVENANTCOVENANT

1. Respect each other through words, body language, and tone.

2. Use “I” language and stay focused on the objective and actions.

3. Maintain one conversation; speak briefly so everyone has a chance for a turn and listen when others speak.

4. Manage your own emotions.5. Speak in a voice mindful of many groups

gathered around you.

Conversation TOWARD ACTION circles

9:059:05MOVE BACK IN LARGE GROUP & MOVE BACK IN LARGE GROUP &

GIVE FOLLOW-UP FEEDBACK FORM GIVE FOLLOW-UP FEEDBACK FORM TO FACILITATOR TO FACILITATOR

Come to the table, you who are divided, torn and angry.

Here find hope.

Come to the table, you who are marginalized and confused.

Here we find love.

Come to the table, you who are weary and tired.

Here we find rest for our souls and food for our journey.

Come to the table, you who desire peace, justice and reconciliation.

Here we are enlightened, discover guidance and grow in the unity of

the faith for all.

Eternal God, we give you thanks for Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have this holy mystery in which you have

given yourself to us.given yourself to us.Grant that we may go into the worldGrant that we may go into the world

in the strength of your Spirit,in the strength of your Spirit,to give ourselves for others,to give ourselves for others,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.Amen.