Here’s where we left off last week:
“Not only is the myth of consumerism not true, it is destroying our earthly home. In attempting to satisfy our consumer culture, the earth is being over-exploited and abused. It reacts to this attack by undergoing fundamental ecological change, the change we have labeled “global heating.” This is why it is imperative that people of faith of all religions must form a counter-culture based on our ancient religious heritage of kenosis and begin to live as Jesus lived, simply, sustainably, and self-emptying in the service of others.
How do we do that?”
We start with praying. As persons of faith we believe that through praying we are in touch with God. God hears our prayers, and as we pray God works to change us for the good. Suppose that every day in our prayers we included prayers for the earth, the world God created. And not just prayers for the earth, but prayers that we ourselves and others be changed, that we learn to give up our dangerous way of living and convert to living sustainably.
So let’s begin praying every day for our world. You can, of course, just pray extemporaneously, but there is a wealth of prayers for the earth in our Christian tradition. Here are a couple for you to start with:
Eternal God,
whose Spirit moved over the face of the deep bringing forth light and life;
by that same Spirit, renew your creation, and restore your image in your people.
Turn us from careless tenants to faithful stewards,
that your threefold blessing of clean air, pure water and rich earth
may be the inheritance of everything that has the breath of life
and one generation may proclaim to another the wonder of your works;
through Jesus Christ, your living Word,
in whom the fullness of your glory is revealed.
Amen. Libby Lane
Creator of our common home,
You fill the earth and sea and sky with life
Forgive us our neglect of your creation
The choking waste of our pollution
The damage done by careless habits
And our indifference to future generations.
Help us to amend our lives
To refuse more plastic if we can’t reuse it
To lift our voice for lasting change
And to live well and gently on the earth
To the glory of your Son, the Living Word
Through whom you made this fragile world.
Amen. Steven Croft
You can find many more prayers on the internet. These two prayers are from the Church of England. I’ll include links to more prayers in future articles. There is also an excellent book that leads you through a four week daily prayer liturgy, Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore. Besides the new paperback, there are many affordable used. I have used this prayer book and highly recommend it.
Thanks for your commitment to praying and caring for God’s creation!
You can find this and all the Creation Care blogs for the church website I have written at a consolidating blog I have created: ststephenscreationcare.blogspot.com
