Collect Memorializing the Lynching of Ed Johnson

Almighty God, Creator and Redeemer - 

You are our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our shield,

the horn of our salvation, our stronghold,

our God, in whom we take refuge.

From generation to generation, we've seen and we've heard you respond whenever your people call upon your name in faith.

With David the Psalmist, we declare that Your Name is worthy to be praised

because you save your all of your children from the enemies of sin, death, and the Deceiver.

115 years ago you heard the lament of your son, Ed Johnson crying out to you in faith, calling upon you to act.

In distress, facing false allegations and feeling the cords of death encompass him, he called out to you, His God, for help.

And from Your Holy Temple his cry reached your ears, you heard his voice, and you answered him.

In your infinite mercy and steadfast compassion you sent Your very breathe, the Holy Spirit

to strengthen, shield, comfort, and save Ed Johnson from his enemies.

You breathed Your Eternal Life into both his body and soul through the waters of Holy Baptism,

Untangling the cords of death and untying the knots of the executioner's noose.

Despite the appearance of victory for those who murdered him you gave him true, lasting, and ultimate victory.

For as St. Paul wrote to the wrongfully persecuted and unjustly executed Church in Rome:

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his…

Baptized in the Hamilton Co. Courthouse jail cell Ed Johnson was baptized into Christ Jesus.

Buried in the tomb of water by the power of Your Word you united Ed with the very Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In his death, despite the appearance of defeat, Ed Johnson received the triumph of Christ's empty tomb.

Ed Johnson placed his hope in the resurrection of Christ and therefore received new life in Christ despite his death

because Christ’s own human suffering and death stands in solidarity with Ed and all other executed innocents.

We trust your promise that Ed Johnson will be raised alongside all the living and the dead when Christ returns with the triumphant blast of the trumpet

in the company of angels, archangels, the saints and all the company of heaven.

As we gather together this morning in Your Saving Name we revisit that fraudulent jury room and undeserved tomb of Ed Johnson,

with David, with Ed, with all the saints we once again call upon you to deliver us from the snares of White Supremacy and the knotted legacy of lynching.

We know all evil, injustice, murder, oppression and even death itself was buried in the tomb with Christ.

Incline your ear and breathe upon us, O Spirit of God once again!

Bury in us all hatred, racism, bias, and murderous thoughts, words, and deeds;

Also, bury deep into our hearts the knowledge of your truth so that we may defy the lies of the Deceiver

Deliver our sisters and brothers who fight for the right to breathe against all of today's nooses;

strengthen our resolve to repair what the broken systems of sinful oppression

and call to repentance the powerful and privileged so that we might tear down all scaffolds of injustice;

Baptize us with the same promise and hope that you baptized Ed Johnson with so many generations ago,

that if "we die with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."

All this we pray through Jesus Christ our Resurrected Lord,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever. Amen.