Resources for Celebrating, Honoring, and Preaching Black History (all year)

Preaching Black History

Preaching Black history and that Black Lives Matter is called for at any time of the year. Some ideas include:

Invite guest preachers from Black congregations or invite current Black history-makers in your community to preach.
Share stories of Black saints and/or spiritual leaders - both lay and ordained from your denomination.
Share your stories of how your life has been transformed through cross-cultural relationships and your learning about Black history.
Highlight a piece of Black history with themes that align to the readings of the day - especially people or events that people in your congregation would not have learned about in school.
Preach about important Black leaders in your town or state. https://becomingbelovedcommunity.org/raceiniowa https://becomingbelovedcommunity.org/february
Preach about the early Black Church fathers and mothers from North Africa: Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Augustine of Hippo, Amma Syncletica of Alexandria, Theodora of Alexandria, Amma Sarah of the Desert
Use Black or Womanist Theologians or Black commentaries as you prepare your sermons, like:
- Stony the Road we Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation
- True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary
- Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction To The Women Of The Torah And The Throne
- Walking through the Valley: Womanist Explorations in the Spirit of Katie Geneva Cannon edited by Emilie Townes
- Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
- This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley
- Books by James Cone, Kelley Brown Douglas,
- Share a section from God’s Trombones by James Weldon Johnson (author of Lift Every Voice and Sing) or use one of the videos from the Diocese of Missouri that invited African American clergy persons in that diocese to perform a rendition of one of the sermons in God's Trombones.
Use book resources like: Preaching Black Lives (Matter) by Gail Fisher Stewart
Preach on the history and themes of African American hymns and spirituals. Resource: Face to the Rising Sun: Reflections on Spirituals and Justice by Mark Bozzuti-Jones. Example: “Lift Every Voice”, sermon from New Song Episcopal Church in Coralville, Iowa (2.4.18).
Listen to Talks at the Desk: Black History Month (ELCA)

Children’s Lessons

Collects and Prayers

Compassionate God, who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities, create in us new hearts and enlarged visions, to see the image of God in every person irrespective of background, race and ethnicity. May we be generous in our love of others as we work towards ending misunderstanding, racism and injustice; creating communities of human flourishing, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. From the Church of England

Faithful God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit, and made known to every race and nation the way of eternal life; open our lips by your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. From the Church of England

Blessed be the deep rich soil where plants take root.
Blessed be the protective cradle of the womb where new life grows.
Blessed be the dark night sky where stars’ bright lights shine.
Blessed be the cool midday shade where earth’s creatures can find rest. Amen.
From Alydia Smith, from Parables, Prayers, and Promises (UCPH)

Prayers of Intercession From the Church of England

God of all peoples, whose Son reached across the ethnic boundaries between Samaritan, Roman and Jew, help us to break down the barriers in our communities, enable us to see the reality of racism and bigotry, and free us to challenge and uproot it from ourselves, our society and our world. Lord, in your mercy,

All hear our prayer.

We pray for all victims of racial hatred and discrimination, and we seek your protection for those affected in our churches, our schools, our places of work and our communities. Lord, in your mercy,

All hear our prayer.

We pray for all in our world, of whatever race, who suffer the horrors of modern slavery. Your Son came to bring good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed. We pray for all working to combat modern slavery and to end human trafficking: for governments and agencies, for Church and other faith leaders, for businesses, charities and individuals. Lord, in your mercy,

All hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves. May we be voices against oppression and channels of the transforming power of the gospel. Open our hearts to all who suffer in our midst but out of sight. Help us to work for a world where human beings are valued, where no one is enslaved, and no one used against their will for another’s pleasure or need. Lord, in your mercy,

All hear our prayer.

We pray that we may know the power of reconciliation. Wherever there is division between us and others, because of our race or ethnicity, we pray that we may all be led to reconciliation. We pray for all who work to bring communities together in ways that are just and equal for all. Lord, in your mercy,

All hear our prayer.

As we pray for reconciliation, we pray also for restoration. We pray for those whose spirits and communities have been weighed down by racism. Guide us as we strive to ensure everyone has equal dignity. Lord, in your mercy,

All hear our prayer.

Prayers of Lament From the Church of England

God of all, we confess that we have inherited a faith that was used to justify the theft of native lands and the enslavement of your people. From this sin, we ask for deliverance.