Prayer For Earth Day
Dear Creator God, on this Earth Day and all days, let me always be in awe of Your wonderful works of creation. I don't want to take the details of the world You created for me for granted. Everything around me is wonderfully complex and splendid. You, Lord, are both an Engineer and an Artist that built a world to perfectly sustain life. But you didn't stop there. You also made immense details that please all of our senses as well. There are beautiful things to see, sounds to hear, textures to feel, yummy food to taste, and even delightful aromas to bring us enjoyment. Thank you for the details of life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the
needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for
your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the
account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards
of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
God of unchangeable power,
when you fashioned the world
the morning stars sang together
and the host of heaven shouted for joy:
Open our eyes to the wonders of creation
and teach us to use all things for good,
to the honor of your glorious Name. Amen.
Come Lord Christ, king of the earth,
lead us as we walk with you
that the earth may be healed.
Come, Holy Spirit hovering over the water
and guide us as we sail to you,
that the waters may flow with life.
Come, you angels of the fire and light
and show us how to dance with you,
that in the light may be born
the flame of love.
Come, you breath of the air,
and inspire us with the breath of you,
that the air may reverberate with
the sound of the word.
Come, Lady Mary and the saints of heaven
and help us to pray with you,
that the earth may be redeemed through
the love of Christ.
Creator God, we thank you for all of creation.We ask your forgiveness where we have failed to be just stewards. And we now ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth. May we learn to live in harmony, safety and just sharing of resources among all so that we achieve the kingdom of God.
Peace be to this community. Peace be to this land. Peace be to all people. Amen.
All praise be yours, My Lord
through all that you have made.
And first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day...
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;
In the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air...
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
So useful, lowly, precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten up the night...
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother,
Who feeds us...and produces various fruits
With colored flowers and herbs...
Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks,
And serve him with great humility.
Father Sky, Earth Mother, Creator:
We gather to praise your creation,
to honor the swimmers and crawlers,
the four-leggeds and the winged ones;
we give thanks for the beauty and glory of creation
and open our hearts to new ways to understand
our place in the universenot the center or focus,
but a humble and balanced place,
where every step we take becomes a prayer,
where every word we say
makes harmony with the vast, vibrating cosmos,
and where we know we are singing the song of life.
We pray to know more deeply that we are in the Garden
where every plant and animal and speck of dust
is a living prayer.
Without our brothers and sisters
of the plant and animal and mineral kingdoms,
the human family would end.
So we want to bless them, as they bless us.
We pray for humility
not to humble ourselves before presidents or priests,
but before the ants and trees
for if we cannot be in true relation to the ant,
we shall be outcasts of the garden.
Let us cast the pollution from our eyes
so we can see the glory and live with thanksgiving.
Great Spirit, let us remember
it is not how we talk but how we walk.
When we say we love animals, let us protect them.
When we say we that we love the plant people,
let us honor them by living lightly on the earth.
When we say we love the minerals,
let us use them only in necessity,
and remember their rightful places.
Oil belongs in the ground,
not in the air through our wasteful machines.
Wondrous trees, breathing life into the atmosphere:
your gifts of fire and shelter, fruit,
and sailing are precious to us.
And in many ways you offer us leaves of knowledge.
May the vision of mutual interrelatedness,
cosmic interdependence,
the seamless process of generations,
not end in cough-filled skies blotting the sun,
but rather may clear air, healthy forrests,
wholesome water, expansive prairie, and pungent earth
nourish paths for all creatures
through mountain and valley, and the salt sea,
and through a protective atmosphere,
as we rejoice in the inhabitants.
Hear and empower our mantra: reduce, reuse, recycle.
With thanks for the surprise and mystery of it all,
we pray in the name of the Creator,
the Processes and Presences, and all our relations.
On Earth Day
we give thanks for signs of spring
melting snow or blooming flowers,
singing robins or flowing streams.
O Creator, we give You thanks and praise.
THIS Earth Day
as we mostly see those signs through our windows or walking alone,
we notice that the earth has some rest from human activity,
Even while we worry and struggle, with people around the world.
O Creator, we learn in the midst of our concerns.
Each Earth Day,
We grieve the state of life and loss on the Earth, deteriorating faster than ever before.
We confess our selfish actions, taking using what we want, not only what we need.
Not all of our actions have brought You the honour we wish to bring
O Creator, we confess our sins with humble hearts.
The Earth cradles us in her sorrow
You, our Source, grieve with her, Your love for us abiding always.
In the midst of all our faults and blunders,
You forgive and love us still.
O Creator, we rest in the assurance of that love.
This year we have seen how swiftly humans can adapt
Give us the eyes to see wisdom in this moment.
Give us the courage to change our ways forever
to live responsibly, to advocate boldly,
to honour and protect what You have created.
O Creator, with your help, we will change our ways,
Through the power of the Spirit,
with Jesus as our guide.
Amen