To celebrate Great Big Green Week, each day this week on UCB Radio we have a lunchtime prayer slot between 12-1pm featuring the voice of A Rocha UK staff. Tune in each day here or pray with us below.
With thanks to Albert Butcher for permission to use his images captured at our Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve.
Monday: a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
(Written by Lissy Webb. Read by Tessa Wilson.)
God, we thank you for creation.
We thank you for its beauty and its majesty, and how through the work of your hands we can see you, our Creator.
We thank you that you see and know all you have created – from the tiniest ant to the tallest mountain – and say, “it is good” – just as you see and know us.
We thank you for the lessons you teach us through your creation. For the seasons and for all they show us about how to live, a time to grow and a time to rest.
We thank you for the refuge of nature, and for the peace and restoration it gives us.Thank you that so many people could rediscover and reconnect with creation during the lockdowns.
We thank you that we are a part of nature, and that you ask us to enjoy and protect it with you – especially during this Great Big Green Week. We thank you that your Spirit sustains us in this, and that in your Son we have hope for our world.
Amen.
Tuesday: a prayer of lament & grief
(Written by Tamsin Morris. Read by Lissy Webb.)
Father of Creation, God of Compassion. You created a world of wonder and placed us in it declaring “it is very good”. In a forest cathedral, or the holy silence of mountains, we sense our oneness with all you have made. With rocks, rivers and clouds, with ladybirds, hedgehogs, and swallows. For this we give thanks. For this we give praise, Father of Creation, God of Compassion, this world is not as you intended – humanity has betrayed its calling to care. Creation groans and we grieve our broken relationship with nature. We weep for what is already lost, and what we stand to lose – species facing extinction, habitats; communities devastated by climate change.
For this we weep. For this we mourn. Father of Creation, God of Compassion, weeping we look to you, wake us from our slumber. Help us to be hope in despair and move us to love-filled action. In creation’s darkest hour, we cry out to you, come and bring your hope, through our Saviour’s resurrection and return. For this we long. For this we pray.
Amen.
Wednesday: Repentance
(Written & read by Lucy Foster.)
Merciful Creator
We are sorry – we should have done better.
Through your word we know to worship only you. But we have built an idol of greed, consumption and destruction.
You gave us a holy responsibility to nurture this beautiful world in Your image. But we have sacrificed nature and neighbours to that idol.
We know that to follow Jesus we must give away what we do not need. But like the rich young man we are reluctant and very sad to do so.
Your church should be a beacon of light in the world. Too often we have collaborated with the darkness of destruction.
In your mercy forgive us our part in this, strengthen us by your Spirit to remain hopeful and overturn the hearts of the powerful to your ways of justice & equity.
Amen.
Thursday: Action
(Written by Lucy Foster. Read by Sara Kandiah.)
Holy God
As you called Creation into being through your Son, your Spirit swept over the face of the water. Send your Holy Spirit again today to sweep over this world and stir up all people of peace to help renew the face of your Creation.
We pray for our local churches and communities, for wisdom and strength to respond well to the challenges the climate crisis has brought this year. We pray for the Great Big Green Week that it may inspire communities to act together.
We pray for this nation, and that the new Prime Minister and their cabinet will take their responsibility to the environment seriously, including those commitments made at COP26.
We pray for this world, for all people, places and species threatened by environmental destruction. And that COP 15 on biodiversity in November will result in nature truly being protected.
Help us raise our voices to demand change. Help us use our hands and minds for healing. Help us open our hearts and resources with compassion.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Friday: Hope.
(Written by Sara Kandiah. Read by Delyth Higgins)
Father God of hope
Thank you for this precious gift of creation.
Though we live in a time of global climate and biodiversity crises; we live in hope of your restoration of all things.
Though we destroy precious habitats for gain; we live in hope that you will change attitudes and actions from ‘mine’ to ‘yours’.
Though we consume this earth and its resources; we live in hope of lifestyle changes that treat our neighbours lovingly both near and far.
Though we see governments failing to support the COP26 agreements; we live in hope that you raise up leaders who care about climate justice
Though we see devastation that displaces many; we live in hope that your church offers compassion and hospitality.
Though we are selfish and short-sighted; we live in hope that you are the alpha and omega, who makes all things new.
You call us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you as your people of hope. So, God of hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Your Son, that we may overflow with eternal hope.
Amen.
Continue to pray with us and follow our October – December prayer diary.
