The books from which [children] learn must reflect movement and change and all of the infinite possibilities of minds at liberty.

- Virginia Hamilton
from her essay "Thoughts on Children’s Books, Reading, and Ethnic America"

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But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

- Micah 5:2

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We lift up the tens of thousands of people who will be coming to DC for the immigration rally this weekend, and we lift up the millions of people they represent and are speaking up for. We pray for justice, mercy and grace for our immigrant brothers and sisters. All are created equal in your sight, and when others are in distress, especially those who are part of the Body of Christ, we share in their suffering. Come in power, Lord; may your kingdom come. Amen.

For many of us the march from Selma to Montgomery was both protest and prayer. Legs are not lips, and walking is not kneeling. And yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying.

- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher

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Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you."

- Psalm 16:1-2

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Jesus, we pray for the spread of your Gospel and for the kingdom of God to come on earth. We pray for those who speak, act, and live out your words and your truth; we pray for your Church, that we may be more faithful and more courageous. May we proclaim the coming of the kingdom by our words, by our actions and our interactions. Let your will be done, Lord. Amen.

Jesus is real, and so, praise God, are we. Every single thing the resurrected Jesus does on earth he does through our bodies. You’re fed, you’re healed, you’re forgiven, you’re pronounced clean. You are loved … Go and do likewise.

- Sarah Miles
from her book Jesus Freak

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For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

- Galatians 5:13-14

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Permit us not, O Lord, to hear your word in vain. Convince us of its truth, cause us to feel its power, and bind us to yourself with the cords of faith, hope, and love that shall never be broken. We bind you to ourselves today, O God: your power to hold us, your hand to guide us, your eye to watch us, your ear to hear us, your wisdom to teach us, your word to give us speech, your presence to defend us, this day and every day; in the name of the blessed Trinity, amen.

Adapted from a prayer of St. Patrick in the book Ancient Christian Devotional, eds. Thomas Oden and Cindy Crosby

This movement was not just about desegregating the buses, or even just the mistreatment of our people in Montgomery. This movement was about slaking the centuries old thirst of a long-suffering people for freedom, dignity, and human rights. It was time to drink at the well.

- Rosa Parks
from A Call to Conscience, edited by Clayborne Carson and Kris Shepard

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The way of the righteous is level;

O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous.

In the path of your judgments,

O Lord, we wait for you;

your name and your renown are the soul’s desire.

- Isaiah 26:7-8

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O God, open our eyes that we may see the needs of others; open our ears that we may hear their cries; open our hearts that we may feel their anguish and their joy. Let us not be afraid to defend the oppressed, the poor, the powerless, because of the anger and might of the powerful. Show us where love and hope and faith are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. Open our ears and eyes, our hearts and lives, that we may in these coming days be able to do some work of justice and peace for you. Amen.

– From the Sabeel Center.

If you are in class, recognize one another; if you are in the store, recognize one another; if you are in the housing estate, recognize one another; if you are in the parish, recognize one another: you are members of one another if you are members of Christ. This is the most revolutionary sentence that can be expressed: "you are members of one another." … And this recognizing one another … is witness to Christ. This is the first expression of our yearning for Christ.

- Luigi Giussani
Italian Catholic priest and founder of the Communion and Liberation movement of the Catholic Church

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There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and [Creator] of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

- Ephesians 4:4-6

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God, we pray for the country of Thailand, and for the civil unrest there. We ask that justice be done and reconciliation be found there. Raise up people of peace who will speak truth fearlessly, and protect them, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

One can give nothing whatever without giving oneself — that is to say, risking oneself. If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving.

- James Baldwin
from his book The Fire Next Time

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When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

- Leviticus 19:33-34

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Break our hearts for what breaks yours, Lord. For our immigrant brothers and sisters, who endure hostility and marginalization simply on the basis of their ethnicity or immigration status, we ask your strength. And for those of us who call ourselves followers of the welcoming Christ, grant us the strength to stand with and for those who live as equals before you, even if not equals before the law or equals in the eyes of some. Amen.

God, we continue to lift up the situation in Israel/Palestine, asking that you would bring not only peace but reconciliation, not only tolerance but genuine engagement and understanding, not only forbearance but love–love that involves taking tough decisions to make tough sacrifices for the sake of the other, for the sake of the oppressed, the marginalized and the downtrodden. We pray especially for our Christian brothers and sisters in that region; be their guide and encouragement that they might be an example of your reconciliation. And all for your glory, Lord. Amen.

Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us …

We have become orphans, fatherless;

our mothers are like widows.

We must pay for the water we drink;

the wood we get must be bought.

With a yoke on our necks we are hard driven;

we are weary, we are given no rest.

- Lamentations 5:1-5

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