O God, open our eyes
that we may see the needs of others;
open our ears
that we may hear their cries;
open our hearts
that they need not be without compassion.
Let us not be afraid to defend the weak
because of the anger of the strong;
nor afraid to defend the poor
because of the anger of the rich.
Show us where love and hope and faith are needed,
and use us to bring them to these places.
Open our eyes and ears
that we may daily do some work of peace for you.
(Alan Paton)
Our climate is changing, and we are changing it. We confess our carbon footprints, our failure to consider the consequences of our actions, our slowness to react. We are sorry for all the times we knew the right thing to do, but chose convenience.
Your earth is exploited, and we are complicit in its exploitation. Species are lost, soil erodes, fish stocks decline, resources dwindle. We confess that many of us have taken too much, and not considered the needs of future generations.
We have become consumers. We have turned a blind eye to greed. We confess our hunger for more, and our failure to appreciate what we already have. We live in a time of unparalleled luxury, and we are sorry that we have not been more grateful.
The poor are left behind, even in this age of plenty. Human rights are pushed aside for profit. Wealth accumulates for the rich while the poorest still do not have what they need. We confess our apathy to injustice, and our haste in judging others.
This is not who you made us to be. We have not been good caretakers of your garden Earth. We have not loved our neighbours. Forgive us, creator God.
Forgive us. Renew us. Inspire us.
And in your strength, God, we declare:
We thank you for your kindness and your mercy. We look to your promise of restoration, and we move forward. Give us the strength to speak and to act – not out of guilt or duty, for we are forgiven and we are loved. Instead, we speak and act out of joy:
Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Lent, Prayer, Reflection
‘Creationtide’ or the ‘Season of Creation’ is the period in the annual church calendar from 1st September (the Day of Prayer for Creation) to 4th October (the feast day of St. Francis) set apart for us to pray and celebrate with creation, focus on the story of Earth, and commit to a ministry of healing the Earth.
‘To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’ is the Anglican Communion’s Fifth Mark of Mission.
This Creationtide why not commit to spending some time each day thinking about our impact on our environment and all the creatures that share it with us and making some changes in our lives that will lead to the regeneration of the Earth rather than it’s destruction? You may like to use this action sheet produced but the Church of England.
Father of all creation, we thank you that you
have given us a world rich in resources,
and made us stewards of your mysteries;
help us to act responsibly,
not wasting or destroying what we do not need,
not polluting the earth, or sea or sky,
that we may act with love towards all things,
and so reflect the great love that you have for the world.
Be with us, Lord God, Creator of all,
to strengthen us on our journey,
to guide us in all our doings,
that we may share in the love and care for your world.
from Adam D. (1996) The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer SPCK, London
Posted in Environment, Faith, Prayer
Next Tuesday is International Conscientious Objectors Day, it is marked around the world each year on 15 May. In London each year a brief ceremony is held at the Commemorative Stone, during which the names of representative people who ‘maintained the right to refuse to kill’ are read out and white flowers are laid on the Stone for each of the people remembered.
Lead us from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love,
from war to peace,
Let peace fill our hearts,
our world, our universe.
Let us dream together, pray together, work together
to build one world of peace and justice for all.
Amen.
More information:
Irony of all ironies,
you call us worth it—
the lifetime of listening
and healing
and teaching the world
that everything is different than we thought it was.
There was something about you there on that cross, that Good Friday.
Jesus, may we spend the rest of our days trying to find out what exactly it was.
Amen.
– Excerpt from “A Prayer for Good Friday”
As part of our Creatide 3 service we also shared this light hearted (but still serious) prayer!
The Terra Preta Prayer
Our Carbon who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name
By kingdom come, thy will be done, IN the Earth to make it Heaven.
It will give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our atmospheric trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against the Kyoto protocols
And lead us not into fossil fuel temptation, but deliver us from it’s evil
low as we walk through the valley of the shadow of Global Warming,
I will feel no evil, your Bio-fuels and fertile microbes will comfort me,
For thine is the fungal kingdom,
and the microbe power,
and the Sequestration Glory,
For ever and ever (well at least 2000 years)
AMEN
Posted in Environment, Fun, Prayer, Reflection
Today, as part of our Creationtide service we used this prayer:
A Prayer for our Earth
By Pope Francis
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace .
Amen
Posted in Prayer, Reflection
This morning we are making prayer bunting to remind us to pray for each other and our neighbours.
I ask for daily bread, but not for wealth, lest I forget the poor.
I ask for strength, but not for power, lest I despise the meek.
I ask for wisdom, but not for learning, lest I scorn the simple.
I ask for a clean name, but not for fame, lest I contemn* the lowly.
I ask for peace of mind, but not for idle hours, lest I fail to hearken to the call of duty.
Inazo Nitobe 1862-1933
*contemn – treat with contempt
Posted in Prayer
From Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Join us in praying that world leaders act with compassion and courage, to reach an agreement that will protect our children and our planet.
Creator God,
You have called us to be keepers of your Earth;
Through greed, we have established an economy that destroys the web of life. We have changed our climate and drown in despair.
Let oceans of justice flow,
May we learn to sustain and renew the life of our Mother, Earth
We pray for our leaders, custodians of Mother Earth;
as they gather in Lima at the climate talks
May they negotiate with wisdom and fairness,
May they act with compassion and courage,
and lead us in the path of justice for the sake of our children and our children’s children.Amen
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
From “Our Voices” – Bringing faith to the climate talks
Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Prayer
