October is Black History Month. Black History Month UK have launched the theme for 2021: “Proud to be.”
Catherine Ross, Editor at Black History Month UK magazine said when launching the campaign theme: “It’s been a challenging time for many Black and Brown people, with so much in the media about racism, inequality and injustice. We wanted the theme of Black History Month 2021 to focus on celebrating being Black or Brown, and to inspire and share the pride people have in their heritage and culture – in their own way, in their own words.”
Reflecting on the theme, and offering prayer for the month, the College of Bishops and the Liturgy Committee have written a special prayer to be used.
Commenting, the Primus, the Most Rev Mark Strange said: “In a society that is still divided along lines of race, we pray for justice for members of our congregations and communities who experience racism, and for the strength of all those who choose to stand against it.
“May we as a church for all of Scotland be proud of our communities, and ever mindful of the need to work for racial justice and reconciliation in society.”
God of our Salvation,
you have created the people of the world in your own image:
Give us grace, we pray, to rejoice in the differences of culture,
language, and race by which you have enriched humanity;
to repent when we fail to recognise Christ in one another;
and to pursue justice and peace for all your children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, taking our human nature,
accepted death upon the cross, and lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for eternity.
Amen.