Daily Prayers for May 22

In 1838, four thousand Cherokee died in the forced removal that the Cherokee called Nunna dual Isunyi — ​“the Trail Where They Cried.” The removal of the Cherokee -people resulted from the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was violently implemented by Andrew Jackson. In 1831 the Choctaw were the first to be uprooted, followed by the Seminole in 1832, the Creek in 1834, the Chickasaw in 1837, and finally the Cherokee in 1838. By 1837, forty-six thousand Native Americans had been removed from their homes.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Song “Were You There?”

O Lord, have mercy : have mercy on us.

Psalm 109:20 25

But you, O Lord my God, oh, deal with me according to your name : for your tender mercy’s sake, deliver me.

For I am poor and needy : and my heart is wounded within me.

I have faded away like a shadow when it lengthens : I am shaken off like a locust.

My knees are weak through fasting : and my flesh is wasted and gaunt.

I have become a reproach to them : they see and shake their heads.

Help me, O Lord my God : save me for your mercy’s sake.

O Lord, have mercy : have mercy on us.

Numbers 23:11 – 26 Luke 9:18 – 27

O Lord, have mercy : have mercy on us.

Native theologian Randy Woodley has asked, “When will the American church awake from her slumber? If they want Native Americans to heal, if they want them to finally meet -Jesus, then let them begin by speaking truth as -Jesus did and say the only words Indians want to hear: ‘We stole your land.’ Our First Nations -people have heard the Gospel over and over again, but rarely have they seen anyone truly live it.”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

Teach us, Lord, to deny ourselves for the sake of your kingdom. Help us distinguish self-righteous suffering from the suffering that comes from bearing our crosses as we follow you. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.

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