Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the history and influence of our AAPI siblings. Additionally, this is a time to recognize the unjust treatment of AAPI immigrants in the United States throughout history as well as the anti-Asian hate that persists today in America. 

The following prayer by The Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, was delivered during worship on Sunday, May 5.   

Gracious God,

we confess that we have failed our

Asian American and Pacifika, and Desi siblings.

We have bought into the

“model minority” and “honorary white” myth

while treating our siblings as perpetual foreigners.

We fail to learn about the

many different peoples, cultures, and nations

you have created and you love.

We fail to seek out and tell

the stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

in our schools, colleges, seminaries, and churches,

Or to admit our colonizing missteps we called “mission”.

Forgive us, God.

Forgive our neglect and indifference.

Forgive our stereotyping, prejudice, and racism.

Forgive us for making our

Asian American, Pacifika, and Desi siblings

invisible.

Inspire us to turn around,

to build connections,

to stop “othering” our siblings,

to embrace one another in love,

and to make your all beloved

children visible.

We pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.