Black Liturgies

Music Ministry and Worship PlanningAnti-RacismLiturgy
Written By Ministry Forum

Black Liturgies is a space where spiritual practice meets Black emotion, Black memory, and the Black body. Founded and curated by Cole Arthur Riley—a bestselling author deeply influenced by voices like Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and Thomas Merton—the project resists shallow spirituality by engaging the full range of human experience: joy, rage, grief, wonder, and rest.

Through prayers, poems, meditations, and contemplative prompts, Black Liturgies centers Black voices while welcoming participants from diverse spiritual backgrounds. The work invites deep reflection not only on God but also on what it means to be human in a world marked by both beauty and injustice. Riley’s voice blends poetic sensitivity with moral clarity, offering language for those who may have been harmed by religious spaces yet still long for sacred connection.

Her recently released book, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human, expands the digital project into a tangible collection of forty-three liturgies, seasonal reflections, and embodied practices.

What You will Find online and in print:

  • Prayers, poems, and meditations grounded in Black literature and spirituality.

  • Reflection prompts and breath practices for personal or communal use.

  • Seasonal and holiday liturgies (e.g., Lent, Juneteenth).

Learn more through her book or by engaging with the online community.

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