An Evening of Lament

Watch our Evening of Lament Service, in which we offered guidance on a Biblical practice of lament through both prayer and song. View readings and song lyrics below.

“The tendency to view the holistic work of the church as the action of the privileged toward the marginalized often derails the work of true community healing. Ministry in the urban context, acts of justice and racial reconciliation require a deeper engagement with the other — an engagement that acknowledges the suffering rather than glossing over it.”

Soong-Chan Rah, Prophetic Lament

8 Minutes of Silence

Prayers of the People

Lord, we pray for our country and church — that you would use this season to shape us into a nation and community that embraces more of the values of Your Kingdom. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

God, we sit in the tension of what it means to live in the United States — we are grateful for this country and thank You for the privilege and freedom that living in this country provides. But Father, we hold this in tension with sorrow and pain — the pain and injustice carried out by the authorities of this nation on George Floyd and countless others. Let us pray to the Lord… 

Lord, have mercy.

We pray for the leaders of the nations and for all in authority, that they would desire peace above violence and generosity above greed. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

Raise up leaders in our government who will be effective advocates for justice and humanizing policies that would truly protect our citizens, our immigrants, and our neighbors. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

God, we acknowledge and repent for slavery in this country. We acknowledge its evil and its generational impact on us, even through to today. We acknowledge the role that slavery played in building this nation: its wealth, its power, and its prosperity. We acknowledge the human slavery through which this was accomplished as evil and unjust toward Africans and African-Americans in our country. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

We lament the ways that people have been and still are treated wrongly because of the color of their skin and country of origin. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

We specifically mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and the long, long list of other black and brown men and women that have been unjustly oppressed and murdered. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

Father, we ask you to tear down racism wherever it exists in our society and systems. Whether it be in our policies, in our leadership, and in the spiritual realms of this nation. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

Tear down strongholds in our own hearts, whatever we can see or can’t see. Forgive us of any ways we contribute towards it, knowingly or unknowingly. Forgive any apathetic indifference towards these topics — expand our compassion and empathy. Sew grace in our hearts as we stumble towards Christlikeness in these conversations. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

Father God, make us one. Help us to carry one another’s burdens. Help us to better listen to the pain, rage, and grief pouring from the lips of our neighbors and friends. Let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

For our hurting world, and for the Unity of the Church as we respond in courage, strength, and compassion, let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, have mercy.

For Your Kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Songs

We Will Run

Create in me a clean heart, a clean heart
For I have turned my face from You
Teach us of your ways, oh God, oh God
For we have turned away from You

Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

We will run to you, we will run to you
Turning from our sin we return to You
Father heal your world, make all things new
Make all things new

Your love and mercy build and shape us
Break down and recreate us now

“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor. ©2011 worshiptogether.com songs. EMI Christian Music Publishing. CCLI 5665208.

Wade in the Water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God’s gonna trouble the water

“Wade in the Water.” Public Domain.

 Psalm 43

Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
deceitful and wicked.

You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?

Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.

Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Guided Lament  

Songs

Satisfied in You (Psalm 42)

I have lost my appetite
And a flood is welling up behind my eyes
So I eat the tears I cry
And if that were not enough
They know just the words to cut and tear and prod
When they ask me “Where’s your God?”

Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your face to me

As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I behold Your splendor, You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh

When I’m staring at the ground
It’s an inbred feedback loop that brings me down
So it’s time to lift my brow
And remember better days
When I loved to worship you in all your ways
Singing sweetest songs of praise

Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about Your faithfulness
Let my pain reveal Your glory as my only real rest
Let my losses show me all I truly have is You
Cause all I truly have is You

So when I’m drowning out at sea
And all Your breakers and Your waves crash down on me
I’ll recall Your safety scheme
You’re the one who made the waves
And Your Son went out to suffer in my place
And to show me that I’m safe

So why am I down?
Why so disturbed?

“Satisfied in You (Psalm 42)” by Brian Eichelberger. ©2012 Mars Hill Music.

A Change Is Gonna Come

It’s been a long time, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

But how long?
How long?

“A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. ©1964 RCA Victor.