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March 19-25 is recognized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) as the Week of Prayer for Overcoming Racism and Xenophobia. This Week of Prayer focuses on people who continue to suffer from racial discrimination and xenophobia in various parts of the world.

The week includes March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which recognizes the injustices and prejudices fuelled by racial discrimination that take place every day, as well as March 25, International Day for the Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

The timeframe of March 21-27 is also recognized in the United States as the Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination.

Additionally, the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lands on 2023.

As a Church, we also lift up a prayer from a joint statement from the four leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Church in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

God of Holy Ground, move us to lament and repent.

Open our hearts, bodies, minds and souls to the
cries of your people.

Transform us by your presence.

Drive us into action for the dismantling of racism in relationships, communities and societies.

Bless us with companions who support us, challenge us and help us keeping going.

We pray for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In the name of Jesus.

Amen.