A prayer for Black History Month in these extraordinary times

Elizabeth Essoka sings for our congregation. Photo: Gerald Farinas.

Gracious and Sovereign God,

You are the author of history, the God of justice and mercy, the One who has walked with Your people through trials and triumphs.

In this sacred month, we give thanks for the strength, resilience, and faith of Black Americans—ancestors, elders, leaders, voices soft and loud—who have borne witness to Your power through generations of struggle and hope.

Lord, we remember the prophets of justice, the martyrs of freedom, the everyday saints who fought for civil rights, dignity, and equality.

We celebrate the victories won, yet we confess the work is not done.

The same forces of injustice that crucified Christ still rise in new forms: policies that suppress the vote, systems that widen racial inequities, and voices that seek to silence truth.

As a new presidential administration brings renewed threats to hard-won freedoms, we pray for wisdom and courage.

Strengthen those who stand on the frontlines of justice, those who advocate for the poor, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised. Keep us vigilant, O Lord, so that we may not turn away from the call to righteousness.

May Your church be a beacon of hope, a place where truth is spoken, love is practiced, and justice is pursued not just in word but in action.

Let us stand with the oppressed as Jesus did, speaking truth to power, lifting up the weary, and working for a world where all are free.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, lead us forward by faith.

May Your Spirit move in us as it moved in the hearts of those who marched, preached, and prayed before us.

Give us strength to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with You.

In the name of Jesus Christ, who came to set the captives free.

Amen.