Category: Prayers
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Gardens
A Thanksgiving for Gardens God of grace, in the story of creation, you made the earth a gardenand entrusted it to us to till and to keep, a place of peace and beautywhere we could walk with you. In the story of redemption,the one who died for us was buried in a garden, and there…
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Sustainable Cities
Prayer Most Australians live in large cities. Cities can be vibrant and exciting places to live. Cities not only consume large amounts of energy and materials to build and run, but as they grow they also encroach on arable land and on the rivers and wetlands that sustain biodiversity. For a Federal Government report on…
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Thanksgiving for the Seed
This Thanksgiving may be useful in farming communities where there is a custom of blessing the “plough” (despite no-till agriculture!) or the seed. Biblical references: Mark 4.26-29, John 12.20-25, Psalm 65 God, we thank you for the seed, harvested from an earlier crop, kept with care and foresight. Thank you for the seed, packed with…
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Farming Communities: Prayers of Intercession
Rural and urban Australians experience the land and environmental issues from different perspectives. These intercessions approach land use from the farmers’ and country townspeople’s perspective. Some or all of these petitions may be included and adapted in an appropriate sequence for the local context. For people who love the land and care for it well,…
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Environmental Degradation and Pollution Prayer
The advances of science and technology of the past 200 years have brought great progress to many people, but a cost. Western industrial economies now have environmental protection legislation with heavy penalties for polluters, but accumulated contaminants remain and toxic spills still occur. Many third-world economies still produce cheap goods with harmful byproducts that damage…
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Confession: Stewardship of creation
Holy God, Creator and Lover of all that is,we confess to you that we have sinned.We have failed in our care for the land and its creatures, we have been greedy, destructive, and wastefulof the resources you entrusted to us.Polluted air and water,eroded soil and salty earth,birds and animals deprived of habitat,and neighbours left hungry…
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Climate Change Prayer
Holy God,earth and air and water are your creation, and every living thing belongs to you: have mercy on usas climate change confronts us. Give us the will and the courageto simplify the way we live,to reduce the energy we use,to share the resources you provide, and to bear the cost of change. Forgive our…
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Canticle: Bless the Lord, all created things
Australia’s many landscapes and climate zones mean that many versions of this biblical canticle will be needed to evoke God’s praise in all parts of the country. This example, along with APBA p 427, may provide a template for local creativity. Rock and sand plain, bless the Lord: salt lake and red earth,praise and glorify…
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Prayers of the People – Food Theme
These intercessions are part of a suite of texts on food and the environment. God of justice,we pray for the feeding of the world.Give wisdom to those who make policy about food,to ensure a fair share for all.Protect good farmland from urban sprawl and industrial degradation. Send plentiful harvests to those who grow crops and…
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Litany – Food Theme
This is part of a suite of texts on the theme of food and the environment. The petition in square brackets referring to Holy Communion (“this holy meal”) should be omitted in non-eucharistic contexts. God the Father, have mercy on us. God the Son, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on…