|
Dear friend, Today, we launch We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor. This book is rooted in an active, justice-building understanding of prayer and ritual—embodied practices that sustain, empower, and transform. Drawn from the struggles and wisdom of poor and dispossessed communities, these liturgies reclaim the sacred as collective action for a world where all can thrive. In a society steeped in the rituals of empire, these prayers insist that the leadership, dignity, and traditions of the poor are not only holy—they are essential to building a just and life-affirming future. You can order yours here. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| In this issue, you’ll find: A guide to the book’s companion website Podcasts and articles about the book An invitation to Freedom Church of the Poor’s service on the book Praise for the book.
With love, not fear. We Pray Freedom! The Kairos Team |
|
|
| This book is not a manual of top-down rituals, but a living resource drawn from the prayers, songs, and actions of poor and dispossessed communities building the Freedom Church of the Poor. These resources are meant to be used—spoken, sung, adapted, and embodied in your own context. For this reason, we’ve created a companion website to help you access all the wonderful resources included in We Pray Freedom. Click the banner above or any of the six chapter slides below to visit the webpage. |
|
| | |
| Over the past few weeks, We Pray Freedom has been featured in several faith and organizing outlets. To learn more about the book and its relevance for resistance today, check out the features below. |
|
| | | We Pray Freedom at Freedom Church of the Poor |
|
| October 5th at 6pm ET, you are invited to join Freedom Church of the Poor for a service celebrating the launch of and the work contained within We Pray Freedom. Freedom Church of the Poor is a spiritual home for the movement to end poverty. As the title of the book suggests, Freedom Church of the Poor is also the space that has held many of the political, religious, spiritual, cultural, and artistic leaders and organizers featured in We Pray Freedom. We look forward to welcoming you into this space. |
|
| | | Praise for We Pray Freedom |
|
| “An amazing and inspirational journey through the immense value of the incorporation of rituals and prayers within our multi-diverse communities. The vivid personal stories, the in-depth references to spiritual resources, and the encouragement to ‘reflect, embody, discuss’ at the end of each chapter gently, yet persistently, guide the reader toward a new vision of possibility. Through each chapter, We Pray Freedom offers a powerful blueprint for individuals, churches, unions, and organizations to work together toward liberation, justice, and equality for all.” |
| - Sweet Honey in the Rock |
| “When we sing together, we are not only supporting a movement; we are building it. Much of this collective song is rooted in our shared traditions of faith. The leaders and communities featured in We Pray Freedom embody this truth, teaching us to build movements through the harmony of our hearts.” |
| | “We Pray Freedom is a call to move beyond the confines of traditional worship into a deeper, more inclusive prayer that embraces both our humanity and our divine calling. It beckons us to hear the cries of the oppressed – not as distant voices, but as teachers of a liberation that transforms us all. The liturgies found in this collection are not just words, but powerful acts of justice and compassion that invite us into right relationship with each other, with creation, and with God.” |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
