by Charlene Smalls
The certainty of children being safe at school has been taken away. Racism has our souls weighed down in either struggle or pride.
As a pastor, I am tasked with being a witness to both faith and the world. To lead effectively, I must stay informed.
Last night, as I put in the daily effort to stay informed, what do I witness? The shadow of a school shooting. The horror of a recent attack on the Jewish community. The persistent, crushing racism like nothing I’ve encountered in my 65 years.
Watching the news last night, the sheer weight of it all was too heavy. I cried out to God, asking the question that is a primal scream of the soul: Why must our differences—color, culture, creed—fuel this profound hatred?
This is a cry from a weary heart, not a call for blame. May our collective awareness of this suffering stir us, at last, to a compassion as boundless as the love we preach. Let us pray:
O God of boundless love and endless compassion,
We lift up the aching weight of tonight. We pray for the victims of senseless violence, for students, for families, and for the Jewish community who bear the relentless pain of hate.
Grant us the courage to confront the deep roots of racism and prejudice—the roots we see thriving in the news, and the roots we encounter even in the most sacred of spaces.
Sustain the weary hearts that carry multiplied burdens. Strengthen our resolve to move beyond mere awareness into transformative action. May we, your people, reflect a compassion stronger than any hatred, and a unity that overcomes every division.
In the spirit of hope, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Reposted with permission from Facebook on December 15, 2025.
Charlene Smalls
Charlene Smalls is co-pastor of Ripple in Allentown, PA.
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The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.