We Call to You O God in Such a Time as This

The pews at Grant Chapel African Methodist in Albuquerque were all filled, and all the metal chairs in the overflow room were taken. On this Sunday afternoon, June 28, people from all walks of life came to pray for unity and the end of racism, and to mourn the senseless death of nine people at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., who were killed by a single white man on June 17.

For the cover of the program, entitled "The Doors of the church are still open," Grant Chapel AME Senior Pastor John D. Hill chose a picture of Mother Emanuel AME on the day the church reopened after the shooting.

 After a series of songs, prayers and reflections, the service ended with this Community Prayer

We call to you O God in such a time as this.

A time of many senseless things, a time when

there are those who don't see others as part of your creation.

A time when we tell our children not to bully yet among adults there is no respect.

We call to you O God in such a time as this.

A time when symbols and other things have

become more important than how we treat each other.

We call to you O God in such a time as this.

A time filled with hurt, pain, and suffering

A time in which we know by your Grace we are better than before.

But it is a time when much more can be done.

We call to you O God in such a time as this.

Because in you we see our hope, in you we see our trust.

In you we see a future and that evil will not win.   Amen