Praying Imperfectly in a Complicated World

The power of a printed litany is that I put words into people’s mouths each week. That’s why I am so careful in what I write for congregational response. I don’t want people to find words coming out of their mouth that do not hold their hopes and dreams.  In fact, a couple of weeks ago, there had been a typo in transferring the words that I had written onto the screen.  Two of our services that weekend, instead of praying to an “unwearied God” prayed to a “wearied God” instead.  Oops.   I trust in the words of Isaiah 40:28, that God will never grow weary, and I’m sorry to the people who had to say the very opposite thing out loud in church. 

This Saturday night, I made a mistake in worship. Forty-five minutes before the service began, I opened my email and received a prayer litany written by some clergy who are living within the area of Ferguson, Missouri.  They have been walking with that community through the pain of the past week. Out of their experiences, they had written a prayer litany and requested that all Missouri Methodist churches use it in worship.

As I quickly skimmed the litany, I was a little troubled by it. Some of the language seemed loaded, and there appeared to be an overall bias.  I was also concerned about well these words would translate onto the projection screen, when we would only be able to see a phrase at a time without the entire context. However, I knew that this litany was birthed from those persons who had walked those streets, and so I heeded the request and used the litany, unedited, in worship that night.

Words that may speak to the hearts of people on one side of the state, it turns out, can cause pain on the other side of the state.  I discovered that as we are struggling to understand that truth of the situation and pray for justice from a distance, we need to be gentle in how we talk and pray together. And I was reminded once again that, if I am going to put words into people’s mouths, those words need be words of healing and hope. 

Immediately after worship, I edited the prayer litany heavily for use at our Sunday services. Sunday evening brought the release of the initial autopsy results and renewed violence. In light of the autopsy (6 gunshots, including 2 to the head, to an unarmed person?  Lord have mercy . . .), perhaps the first litany spoke the deeper truth. For those of us who do not have the entire truth, though, perhaps the best we can do is pray for one another, friend and foe, innocent and guilty, and everyone in between. 

Below is the edited prayer. I continue to pray these words, that justice and peace may come to Ferguson and throughout our nation.

For those who have seen their lives torn apart by violence of all kinds,

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the family of Michael Brown, his friends and his community, and for all those who grieve the loss of life tragically ended.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the officers and first responders that day, and for those who risk their own safety to continue to try to keep peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have responded to violence with more violence, and for those who have pleaded for an end to violence.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who look at this situation from a distance, neglecting to get involved or too easily passing judgment, and for those people who are willing to step out and to lead in times of trouble.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those persons in positions of power who have not used their power effectively, and for those persons who use their power to work for reconciliation and justice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the people of Ferguson and of St. Louis, city and county—north and south, east and west, and for all of the people of this nation who are affected by these issues.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And for us, Lord—your body the church, that we may be agents of your reconciliation, peace and justice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.  Amen.