CLIMATE CHANGE SUNDAY - RACHEL FULLERTON'S PRAYERS IN FITZROY

 

Good morning Fitzroy,

 

As we begin our prayers this morning it is wonderful to be entering into this season of creation. A season observed by churches all around the world.

 

A time over these next 2 months for us to intentionally focus on the incredible world that we are an integral part of.

 

A time for gratitude, lamenting, forgiving and petitioning for change.

 

This afternoon people of faith gathered in person and online at Glasgow cathedral at the heart of the city where the UN climate talks will take place in November. We gathered to pray for our climate, commit to personal action, and speak to politicians about the need for government action.

 

Let us pray

 

 

We give thanks for all creation full of divine energy and sacred mystery.

All creation sings of you. Nurture in us loves for our planet and commitment to live differently.

 

We lament the role we have played as partakers in the reckless use of resources. We lament that as people of faith we have not spoken up sooner and led the way in caring for creation.

 

Forgive us for our greed and indifference and may we now recognise our place as part of not apart from creation.

 

We pray for imaginative, innovative, and creative solutions to our climate emergency and for all those working for change in everything from Carbon catchers to sustainable cars.

 

We pray for all those of us petitioning for change. May we as campaigners speak out in wisdom with conviction and compassion.

 

We pray for today’s climate Sunday service, God use this time to challenge and strengthen those of us who are already caring for creation and may it be a time of inspiration where others will be enthused to participate in the restoration of earth.

 

Please join with me in saying this ecological take on the Lord’s Prayer. The words will now be on screen

 

Our father who art in creation,

Hallowed be the world,

May sustainability come,

Thy will be done through us in restoring earth.

Give the poorest this day their daily bread,

And forgive us our sins against earth as we forgive ourselves for what we have done.

Lead us not into complacency,

But deliver us from greed,

Thine is creation, revealing your glory, forever and ever Amen.