Dear Siblings in Christ,

These are days for lament, and renewed commitment to justice. I lament the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the officers in Memphis. I lament the stress officers are experiencing. I lament the loss of a son and father. We need to affirm that Black Lives Matter and our systems and relationships must act accordingly. Today at our Leadership Development training in the Prairie North District, we lifted a prayer shared by Rev. Violet Johnicker of Rockford Urban Ministries. Feel free to pray and use in worship. May our actions produce equity that makes Christ known. Thank you for your ministry.

Peace,

Dan Schwerin, Bishop
Northern Illinois Conference UMC

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A Prayer of Lament for Tyre Nichols and A Call for an End to Police Brutality

God of Love and Justice,

We cry out to you in anger, pain, grief, and desperation as we remember your beloved son Tyre Nichols, murdered by police officers in the city of Memphis. 

We strive to understand the stress which all such officers experience as they work to serve and protect their communities.

We mourn for the mother of Tyre Nichols, who he called for as he was brutally beaten after a traffic stop. 

We mourn for his four-year-old son, who has been denied a life with his father.

Pour out your spirit of peace and comfort over all who grieve his death, trusting that You who know what it is to lose a son stand in solidarity with them.

Almighty God, we give you thanks for the protesters and advocates calling for an end to the sin of police brutality. Protect them and give them your strength. This is not the world that you desire for us, and we cannot passively shake our heads at the news as we move on to the next prayer. 

We condemn the systemic evil of white supremacy, a force so strong that it works within institutions through people of any race. 

We decry the way police violence has been normalized, knowing there is pain for oppressor and oppressed. 

You created each and every person good, in Your image. Call us again to live up to Your dreams for us. Empower us with Your righteous anger, moral courage, and holy strength to change racist and violent systems that cause harm to Your beloved Black children, and to all of us.

Let the reactions of our communities move from "thoughts and prayers are not enough" to "thank God the church turned their prayers into action and transformed the world."

Even in our lament, we are people of hope.

Amen.