A Good Friday Prayer of Lament and Courage
Prayer by Cameron Helwege (He/Him/His)
Communications Coordinator for MFSA
God who hears our cries,
Today we sit with the weight of the cross.
We remember what happens when truth is silenced,
when power protects itself,
when the vulnerable are cast aside.
We remember that Jesus was executed by a system that feared what love could change.
And we recognize that story—because it is still unfolding.
In every unjust system, in every life deemed expendable, in every moment where dignity is denied,
we hear the same question rising:
“How long, O God?”
How long will this continue? How long will suffering be ignored? How long until justice comes?
Hold our grief, O God. Do not rush us past it. Do not let us look away.
But also, do not let us stay still.
Give us the courage to name what is broken.
The strength to stand with those who are suffering.
The clarity to resist what harms.
And the persistence to keep going,
even when change feels far away.
On this day of sorrow, remind us that lament is not weakness—
But rather, the beginning of transformation.
Stay with us in the darkness.
And shape us into a people who refuse to give up on a world made whole.
Amen.
Cameron Helwege (he/him/his)
is the Communications Coordinator for the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). He is also the Creative Director at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. With over two decades of experience in communications and media production at different levels within the United Methodist Church and beyond, Cameron has played a pivotal role in various church and nonprofit settings, focusing on creative work that fosters inclusivity and dialogue. Cameron is driven by an innate curiosity and a passion for understanding how things work. As an Enneagram 5w4, Cameron is known for his thoughtful, introspective approach, often found working quietly behind the scenes. He is deeply passionate about social justice, inclusion, and healing from church trauma.
Allendale United Methodist Church is a justice-seeking, inclusive congregation committed to practicing Christ’s example of unconditional love without exclusion. Allendale affirms the sacred worth of every person and invites people of every race, background, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic situation, age, and ability to participate fully in the life of the church.
Rooted in the belief that all people are God’s beloved, Allendale strives to embody love through acts of grace, advocacy, and community care. As a community of seekers, followers, and doubters, the congregation gathers to grow in faith, support one another, and work for healing, justice, and advocacy in the wider world.