Loving God, we give you thanks for Black history, Black culture, and Black lives, and for the wisdom, courage, creativity, and resilience that have shaped our communities, our church, and our world.
Give us strength, humility, and penitent hearts so we may acknowledge our nation’s history and the mistreatment of people based on ancestry, race, religion, and perceived differences.
We thank you for ancestors who endured, for leaders who dreamed and organized, for artists, teachers, caregivers, and prophets who spoke truth, created beauty, and worked for justice even when the cost was high.
We are grateful for the faith of Black communities—for songs sung in sorrow and in hope, for prayers whispered and proclaimed, for a trust in you that has carried generations forward.
We give thanks that our sins and weaknesses are met with your immense grace, and that your Spirit is at work even now, bringing change and newness within us, within our church, and throughout our society. Amen.
Resources for Black History Month:
List of Books Curated by Sparkhouse
Read “See Me, Believe Me” by The Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers – In this book, she offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA.
Watch Joe Davis’ Interview on Art on a Conduit of Collective Liberation
Check out our list of racial justice organizations, ELCA educational materials, and ministries
View ELCA Talks At The Desk – This video series explores diverse expressions of the church. Three seasons are currently available and can be used individually or as a group study.
Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada 