My attempts at capturing all of my thoughts and responses to what took place in Charlottesville, VA would be futile as there is so much going through my mind as I reflect on what took place, the people who were present, and the message that was conveyed by all involved's actions. With that said, I was however tasked with leading our congregation at First Baptist Church, Monroe in prayer in our weekly worship service. As I shared with our people, the events of this week have left me at a loss for words, so I had to borrow the powerful words of Fran Pratt. Below are the words of introduction I shared with our congregation, followed by the prayer that we offered from the litany that Fran Pratt wrote.
Words of Reflecting on Charlottesville/Intro
to Prayer
Yesterday, I spent the
morning on a football field officiating a football scrimmage, seeing young men enjoying
a game that requires its participants to exhibit teamwork, dedication, trust,
and effort for the good of the team. Despite the warm weather, I walked off
that field with joy in my heart and a smile on my face for the experience I had
enjoyed. That joy was short lived when I reached my car, and saw the notifications
on my phone detailing the events of violence that were unfolding in
Charlottesville. As I watched the events unfold the rest of the day, I found
myself experiencing a broad range of emotions. Confusion, anger, disgust,
sadness, shock… maybe you felt some of these and other emotions as well?
I am thankful to live in
a country where its citizens have the right to express their opinions and
beliefs, whether I agree with them or not, or even if I feel it is not okay to
believe that particular way. Yet, when a person’s opinions or beliefs lead to
the act of driving a vehicle into a crowd of people intent on causing harm…
that no longer is an opinion, but is something else. Something that I, nor we
as people who call ourselves followers of the Prince of Peace can allow to go
on unchecked.
So this morning church,
as I reflect on the events in Charlottesville, VA, or how many times I heard
the phrase North Korea this week, and all the other pains and challenges I know
each of us are facing, as one of your ministers, I have to be honest and say, I
am at a loss for words to pray this morning. But fortunately, we are able to
turn to words of those across the life of the church for when we have none, so
this morning for our prayer time, I will be borrowing words adapted from a
litany written by Frann Pratt in light of what happened in Charlottesville. As
I pray, I encourage you to add your own words of what you are feeling, knowing that
our God is a big god, one who hears us and understands us, even when we may not
be able to understand ourselves. Let us pray.
Litany
for Charlottesville, VA
Written
by Fran Pratt
Used
as a prayer at First Baptist Church, Monroe – Sunday August 13, 2017
God, we are
sad to see the stark truth of demons that remain among us:
Hatred,
bigotry, racism, and white supremacy.
We are sad to
see flagrant parades of violence in our streets,
Flaunting
prejudice and intolerance.
We mourn with
our sisters and brothers who are harmed in body and soul
By these
exhibitions.
Indeed, we are
all harmed:
They are us
and we are them.
We say No:
This can go no
further.
We reproach
these misguided souls
Resolutely and
lovingly.
Help us not to
bury our heads
Or resist the
lesson before us:
Of the truth
of the darkness that exists in our midst
Growing like
weeds among wheat.
Help us to
stamp out hate
By love and
love alone.
Help us to
preach peace on loudspeakers and pedestals,
But also in quiet
relationships;
In art and
poetry,
In song and
dance,
In bread and
wine,
In words
written and spoken,
In pulpits and
in alleys,
In boardrooms
and porches.
The way of
Christ is peace.
The method of
Christ is love.
The means of
Christ is invitation.
The ends of
Christ are unity.
The way of
Christ
Is the way we
follow. Amen
Amen
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