A Prayer of Lament | Pastor Leah Wenger
by Elouise
Reverend Leah Wenger has served for nine years as Pastor at The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois. Her prayer of lament (below) can be found with others on the Mennonite Church USA website. Each lament responds to the violence of racism in the USA.
Most churches aren’t accustomed to prayers of lament. A Psalter I own has changed many Psalms of lament into something else. Is that because we don’t like negativity?
Here is Rev. Leah Wenger’s prayer of lament, followed by a few comments.
Battered, Broken, Betrayed.
I stand Before you
Between the lines
Breathe on me Breath of GodBecause I have Betrayed
My Brother and sister
By my silence
Breathe on me Breath of GodBut what is Breath
when it is stolen
Humanity Beyond recognition
Buried in BloodBring us transformation
Beauty for Brokenness
Expose me for my blindness
Breathe on me the breath to seeBe Brave and Bold
Beyond what others can see
So when I can’t Breathe
God Breathe on meWhen I cannot see my Betrayal
Bring me to the light
I Beg for the wisdom to Be Better
Bless me with the strength
to never stop BecomingBeyond the patience to listen
Bring me into action
I can’t Breathe
So God, Breathe through mePrayer from Pastor Leah Wenger,
Urbana Executive Pastor of the Vineyard Church of Central Illinois
Prayer found at the Mennonite Church USA website
Can an entire nation lament the ongoing violence of racism in the USA? Perhaps not.
Nonetheless, it would be most appropriate for white churches in the USA (and their members) to lament. Not for a day or an hour, but for a lifetime of being major players in this sick drama. Sometimes we’ve joined the enemy outright. Other times we’ve looked the other way, or called what we see anything but ‘racist.’
We’re at a crossroad. We are not, however, out of options. Pastor Leah’s prayer is good place to start. It breathes life. The life of our Creator who understands and knows us inside out. Today is a good time to stop, lament, look around, and get moving in a different direction.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 17 September 2020
Image found at mem.intervarsity.com
Telling the Truth 
So good. I’m afraid the church has forgotten how to lament. I’ve been learning more about it as I was never taught anything about lamenting. Just confession which is different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi CH! Thanks so much for this comment. Yes, we were also all into confession, but not a word or example of lament that I remember. At the same time, I have to admit my private prayers were full of the laments of a young girl.
LikeLike
Wonderful, thought provoking prayer/poem.
Thank you, Elouise, for posting it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Don!
LikeLike