Category Archives: Prayer

Creationtide

Posted on 31 August 2018 by | Leave a comment

‘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

Leave a comment

Posted in Environment, Faith, Prayer

International Conscientious Objectors Day

Posted on 12 May 2018 by | 1 Comment

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:

1 Comment

Posted in Peace, Politics, Prayer

A Prayer for Good Friday

Posted on 30 March 2018 by | Leave a comment

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”

Leave a comment

Posted in Easter, Prayer

The Terra Preta Prayer

Posted on 17 September 2017 by | Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

Posted in Environment, Fun, Prayer, Reflection

A Prayer for our Earth By Pope Francis

Posted on 17 September 2017 by | Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

Posted in Prayer, Reflection

Making prayer bunting

Posted on 4 September 2016 by | Leave a comment

This morning we are making prayer bunting to remind us to pray for each other and our neighbours.

Leave a comment

Posted in Fun, Prayer, Worship

I ask for daily bread

Posted on 26 April 2016 by | Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

Posted in Prayer

Climate Change Prayer

Posted on 23 November 2015 by | Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Prayer

Ramadan Mubarak

Posted on 17 June 2015 by | 1 Comment

Ramadan starts tomorrow (Thursday 18 June), and we’d like to deliver a card like this to each of our 3 local Mosques: Leeds Grand Mosque, Makkah Masjid, and Makki Masjid and Madrassa . All in favour, say Aye??

ramadan wishes

And let’s remember our Muslim sisters and brothers in our prayers this next month… ‘Loving God, Good Shepherd of us all: We give you thanks and praise for the rich diversity of your world and your people. Give us humility to see your Spirit at work in the life of others; give us joy to show your Spirit at work in our life; and above all give us love to embrace and break down the barriers that separate us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’

1 Comment

Posted in Community, Mission, Our Parish, Prayer

Hunger for Justice weekend

Posted on 19 October 2014 by | Leave a comment

Over the weekend of 18-19 October, hundreds of churches nationwide will be urging their local MPs to tackle climate change, and praying for our sisters and brothers around the world. If you want to know more then visit the Christian Aid website

Here is a special Prayer from Malawi for us to use:

Lord, you are our rock, our fortress and our strength;

guide us, lead us and have mercy on us.

We thank you for the precious gift of your earth, in all its beauty and fragility.

Through it we are each bound to one another in a million ways.

For the sake of those facing rising temperatures, drought and water shortages,

strengthen our movement for climate action.

For the sake of those facing unpredictable weather, disrupted seasons and failed crops,

bless our leaders to work together to find positive, lasting solutions.

For the sake of all those who feel the impact of our changing climate, the poor and the vulnerable,

bring the hope of a brighter, cleaner future.

Lord hear our prayer and fill our hearts with a hunger for justice.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will set up our banners to call for change. May the Lord fill our petitions!

Amen

Yamikani Dakalira from Malawi is visiting in October to speak to churches about her work, and has written a special prayer for us all to use over the prayer and action weekend (18-19 October).

Yamikani works for Christian Aid’s partner, CEPA, in Malawi to combat the impact of climate change, involving the poorest communities in the solutions.

Use this prayer in your service or at your event over the Hunger for Justice weekend (18-19 October).

Leave a comment

Posted in Christian Aid, Environment, Politics, Prayer