Eternal God,

As we lift our hearts to you on behalf of those who have suffered at the hands of the demonic distortion of white supremacy, either at the hands or by words of others, or by their own degradation by this sin which so easily entangles, we acknowledge our own need for your forgiveness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own love of self

and embrace your willingness to sacrifice for others.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own grasping after and holding onto power

and embrace your desire to empower others through us.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own readiness to speak loudly out of our own ignorance

and be willing to listen, discern and learn from others.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own thoughts of vengeance

and embrace your heart of mercy.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own self-righteousness

and embrace your humility.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own divisiveness

and embrace your call to unity.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own fears

and trust confidently in your providence and protection.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own willingness to attach labels to people, to be “respecters of persons”

and affirm instead your image and likeness in every person.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own selfishness

and be grateful for everything.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own harsh speech

and speak instead your words of grace.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own faithlessness

and place instead our faith in your provision.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own greed and glorifying of consumption

and embrace your generosity.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own complicity with evil

and embrace your holiness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own complacency which says “We’re OK,” and “It’s all good”

and devote ourselves instead to advocacy for others (for whom things most clearly are not).

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own anger

and embrace your charity.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own prejudice

and embrace your openness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own tendency to selectively present and “spin” truth for our own ends

and embrace instead your call to follow the truth, wherever it leads.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own harshness

and embrace your gentleness.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own despair

and embrace your hope.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own hostility

and embrace your ministry of reconciliation.

LORD, in your mercy, grant us grace and strength to turn from our own resentment and offence

and instead forgive others,

as we embrace your forgiveness of our own sins through the sacrifice of our Master, Jesus.

We pray in his name, and for the sake of his righteous, holy and just reign. May it be manifested quickly in our hearts, in our communities, and in the world, and particularly, we pray in the United States, in the commonwealth of Virginia, and in the city of Charlottesville this day.

AMEN.