O God of Mystery,
Who gives life in abundance.
Who welcomes the outcast and runs toward the hurting,

Run to us,
For we are in pain.
We are filled with guilt and shame
Inflicted on us by those whom
We have called a faith family.

They have used your words—
often twisted them—
To control.
To manipulate.
To belittle.
To impose guilt.

Whether it be the
Control of the physical self
Through purity culture,
Sexism, gender identity:

The imposing of
Stigma onto the mental self
Through defining anxiety
And depression as signs
Of a lack of faith;

Through these and other manners
By which the church has
Shamed—Lord—
We recognize the pain
They have caused so many.

Many like us. Even us.

For those of us who
once even believed,
Taught,
Supported,
Repeated,
Perpetuated,
Jesus, in our recognition
We mourn and we repent.

We ask that you,
Gracious God,
Remind us of your true nature.
For you didn't come
To shame,
But to set free,
In and through all.

Walk with us that we
might find a healing path
Through truth,
That we may be set free
And welcome others into
That freedom.

Jesus, kneel before those
In the church that want to
control and condemn;
Write in the sand;
Dare them to cast a stone.

Spirit, dwell in hearts and minds.
Remind those who are
Riddled with the wounds of shame
That you do not condemn.

But
That you welcome.
That you embrace.
That you set free.

Let us always do the same
In your name and with your love.

For you have set free indeed.
And we dive into the depths of that freedom.

Praise be to They who dwell
In this moment, in past moments, and in the moments to come.

Amen.