Prayer for Our Nation

Dear Church Family

“Today, as another black man is gratuitously killed before a crowd of witnesses while unsuccessfully appealing to the humanity of a white police officer, we are reminded that the traditions of hate and murder are alive and well and actively venerated. We can see that the worship of the godling of racist hate and murder survives in the act of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed man as he cries out, “I can’t breathe!”

(From an article in RNS, Religious News Service, by Cheryl Gilkes)

   I write to our NBUMC family to cry out to God in prayer for the end of racism in America. This action and the many like it are unacceptable to our Creator. We are approaching Pentecost, when the Breath of the Holy Spirit came upon us and all nations, that we might be closer to the nature and quality of life, of Jesus Christ, and God’s love for one another.

   Can we take a moment for prayer for the end of racism, at noon, for instance? Our Baltimore-Washington Conference Bishop Easterling, has invited us to pause and pray the Lord’s Prayer each day at noon. The prayer is that the will of God be done, on earth as it is in heaven. The prayer asks God to forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And it is asking God to help lead us not into temptation. Surely the racism and hatred that is shown is a temptation that must be eliminated. Prayer does make a difference.

   So please, during this day and every day, pause to pray for peace in our country. Pray that we recognize that Black Lives Matter. Pray that God’s love means all, will spread out and make a difference, regardless of our color, ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, life experiences etc. All Means All.

   We are fighting a challenge brought on by a physical sickness in the Covid-19. We also are fighting a more invisible internal sickness of racism, prejudice and hatred, that needs just as much, healing as the other.

   May you sense that God will supply the Holy Spirit to us and to our world that so desperately needs to learn a better way to love and treat one another.

   Remember to pray, a lot, today and the days that are ahead.

Pastor Jeff