16th April 2023
21st – 24th April 2023 will see Parliament Square filled with tens of thousands of people calling for action from the Government, and those in authority, to protect the environment and to tackle the growing climate crisis. Many of those joining the witness will be Christians, people of faith. In preparation for this prophetic action, Christians are invite to pray for the earth, for the action and for the wellbeing of all peoples. This collection of prayers can be a starting point to be used in advance of and during this weekend – I will be posting one each day.
The Big One is being hosted by Extinction Rebellion as part of new direction to undertake action that is legal and organised in close consultation with the police. These prayers have been complied by members of Christian Climate Action. CCA is coordinating a series of acts of prayer, worship, and pilgrimage during the weekend, with an open invitation for as many other Christian groups, congregations, choirs and musicians to join in.
For more information check out CCA’s website – https://christianclimateaction.org/
Naming – inspired by a Padraig O Tuama blessing
In the name of the Creator, and the Redeemer, and of the Companion
In the name of the bee, and the butterfly and the breeze,
In the name of blossom, birdsong and all of the trees
In the name of truth, and all of the beauty surrounds us
In the name of love for our fellow human beings, love for all living things, and love for this beautiful planet that we call home
In the name of all these things
We reject our failure to think of others
We reject ignoring the implications for the global south
We reject careless indifference
We reject maximised profit for the few
But in this gathering dark – we remember the flame of hope
We remember what is possible
We remember love
Therefore we cry out for Justice.
We cry out in hope, knowing there are possibilities that we cannot yet see
We cry out in love
And Lord – may we always journey with you
In the beautiful name of Jesus, Amen.
(Contributed by Mark Francis)
Wonder
Sometimes we look around and everything looks beautiful – especially on a sunny spring day, especially if we’re in a park or garden, or by a river or the coast. God wills that the world should be a place of beauty. Yet we know that at present the world is a place of sin and suffering arising from our human waywardness. If we look more closely we know we will see evidences of pain and harm, of brutality and ugliness. Can a sense of wonder help us to respond?
Now is the sky blue!
Now is the verge blowsy
with lady’s lace and buttercups,
and tousle headed grasses.
The dog rose in the hedge
the sheep beyond.
The burbling refrain of the curlew,
the acrobatic swerve of the swift.
All is now, and now, and now!
But tomorrow, next week, next year?
Merciful God will they still be there?
Will our apathy,
our slowness to act,
our aversion to change
allowed all this
to be threatened,
diminished, and
evicted from life?
Have mercy.
But not just mercy –
rather prod us, prompt us,
push us into action.
Renew our hearts and minds,
reverse our expectations
so that we change the future
and once more
be restorers of creation.
Amen.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14
The Green Tau 