Author: Judith Russenberger

Environmentalist and theologian, with husband and three grown up children plus one cat, living in London SW14. I enjoy running and drinking coffee - ideally with a friend or a book.

Trees of Life

19th September 2026

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. Proverbs 11:30a

Sovereign God, you are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace

A reading: As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

An acorn is a comical thing

with a little hat that could be a cup.

Its pointed tip – that could be its bottom – 

is not going to drill its way into the earth. 

It waits for the rook or the squirrel 

to snaffle it and bury it deep in the soil, 

where after hours of dark contemplation 

it will emerge as a slip of a thing, 

with rusty red leaves that unfold into green.

An oak’s life starts in a very small way.

Lord God, in small and even comical ways, 

let our faith grow. 

From small beginnings help us sow 

seeds that will transform your world.

A reading: I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.  Isaiah 41:19-20

Rooted together in community, 

colonising land that might otherwise be void, 

trees are not loners. 

Companions, they support each other, 

as neighbours they support others, 

forming delicate ecosystems 

where life is in the balance. 

Lord God, let our faith 

create neighbours and communities.

Rooted in togetherness, 

may your kingdom come.

A Reading: He said, “Out of the eater came something to eat; Out of the strong came something sweet.” Three days later they had still not figured out what the riddle meant. Judges 14:14

Ancient oak, 

wrinkled and gnarled, 

gnawed at by time, 

even in death you provide safe lodging 

and sustenance for others. 

With grace you return to the earth 

the nourishment you harvested: 

a life time of receiving and giving.

Lord God, let our faith 

nourish generations to come 

just as we gain from those who have gone before. 

May the power of the resurrection 

sustain us with eternal life.

Amen.

The Grace

Proper 19, 15th Sunday after Trinity 

13th September 2026

Reflection with readings below

The reading from Genesis talks of the gift of forgiveness – its ability to dispel fear and restore relationships – and the importance and freedom of not holding a grudge. Today’s psalm expands on this by declaring how it is that God bestows benefits on us: forgiving our sins, healing our infirmities (our shortcomings), redeems and gives value to our lives, satisfies our needs, and executes righteousness and judgement for us all. All this is encapsulated in the phrase ‘compassion and mercy’. 

God’s character is to show compassion and mercy to all creation. Our calling is to imitate God, or calling on the language of Genesis 1, we who are made in the image of God, are to ‘image’ in our behaviour the behaviour of God. We are to show compassion and mercy to all creation. We are to forgive sins – and not hold grudges. This may mean letting go of privileges or rights or possessions or land, that we previously valued more than our love for our neighbour.  We are to heal broken relationships and mend what we have damaged. This includes making peace with those we deem our enemies but also establishing right relationships with those we have abused. 

Some of these are inter human relationships such as our failure to ensure our young people have access to loving families, to accessible education, to green spaces, secure homes and safe streets. Or our failure to provide loving homes and attentive care for our elderly citizens. Or our failure to take any responsibility for those in other lands affected by colonial oppression, climate change etc.

Some of these are relationships with wildlife, and here we have clearly failed when we see and measure the extent to which populations have declined and species have become extinct. Only this week did I read that one in in nine migratory birds are threatened with extinction and 45% of migratory species such as cuckoos, turtle doves and Arctic terns are in decline, which are overwhelmingly caused by humans and include the intensification of farming, unsustainable hunting, pollution, invasive species and global heating. (1) 

Some of these are relationships with domesticated creatures, hens forced to live severely curtailed lives (often not more than 6 weeks for a bird that could live as many years) in cramped lives devoid of access to the natural world; cows that must give birth annually only to have their baby removed within hours, and who may have their own lives prematurely curtailed after 3 or 4 years. 

Some of those are relationships with ecosystems such as soils which we pollute with herbicides and pesticides, and rivers that we pollute with a similar cocktail of chemicals to which we add sewage and industrial waste. Or with ancient woodlands and tropical forest which we have cleared to replace them with monocultures of Sitka fir, palm oil and soya beans for yet more cattle fodder.

We are to redeem life which must include restoring lives that we have damaged – lives not just of people but of plants and animals, of river systems and marine environments, of the air we breath and the water we drink.

We are to satisfy the needs of all our neighbours – ensuring food and homes, and environments within which to thrive. Ensuring provision for health, for education, and opportunities for fulfilling work. Ensuring a fair sharing of wealth and resources.

We are to act righteously and ensure justice for all. And it’s not that we don’t know what is needed!! And it’s not that we can’t do this!! We have the wealth and the resources globally to ensure everyone can live sustainably. We have the knowledge and the skills to effect this. We have enough visionaries and prophets to be able to visualise this as a reality. What we seem to lack is the will! We are so reluctant to share our wealth, to change our lifestyles, to adapt our diets, to forgive and make peace, to pursue justice and ensure restoration.

Here we need to turn again to our faith, to studying and drawing strength from scripture, from the prayer and practice that draws us closer to Jesus, following more closely his way, for studying the book of nature and realising and imbuing the love of our creator. We must let this power is into action – for action is needed! 

Action cannot be a nice extra. Actions cannot be what someone else does. Action cannot wait until everyone steps forwards. !

We must make the changes in our own lives, to speak out where  God’s will is ignored, where error and damage persist, to help others and to receive their love and help in return –  do it now, for that is to act in the image of God.

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/11/migratory-birds-species-threatened-extinction-decline-global-report?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Genesis 50:15-21

Realising that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. 

Psalm 103: 1-13

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and forget not all his benefits.

3 He forgives all your sins *
and heals all your infirmities;

4 He redeems your life from the grave *
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;

5 He satisfies you with good things, *
and your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

6 The Lord executes righteousness *
and judgment for all who are oppressed.

7 He made his ways known to Moses *
and his works to the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.

9 He will not always accuse us, *
nor will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, *
so far has he removed our sins from us.

13 As a father cares for his children, *
so does the Lord care for those who fear him.

Romans 14:1-12

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honour of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to God.

We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 

So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Matthew 18:21-35

Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Mindful Sauntering: the footsteps of St Francis

12th September 2026

There is a suggestion that a saunterer is a person walking to the Holy Land, coming from the French ‘à la sainte-terre’. So let’s consider sauntering to be a form of holy or blessed walking.

4th October is the Feast of St Francis. He is often seen as the environmentalists’ saint because of his love of nature. It wasn’t just that Francis enjoyed the company of birds, it was that he understood all parts of creation to be of equal value. He saw birds and animals, sun and wind, people rich and poor, well and ill, Christian and Muslim, infectious and healthy, as his brothers and sisters – and all therefore children of God. And as much as he treated them with care, love and respect so he expected the, to treat each other in the same way. In this hope I am sure he was often disappointed but never dissuaded. Francis wrote The Canticle of Creatures with this mutual respect in mind. 

Can we show mutual respect for both our fellow human beings and for the vast interconnectedness of all parts of creation? Can we both show repentance for where we have caused harm and be proactive in healing what we have damaged?

Read the Canticle, and then as you walk pay attention to the wildlife, the people, and the seasonal changes around you. 

Can you offer praise like Brother Sun? Can you offer praise like Sister, Mother Earth? 

Can you receive gratefully what the birds and the plants give us as brother and sister? 

Can you give back to them as generously?

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory,

and the honour and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong

and no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be you, my Lord,

with all Your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun,

who is the day,

and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful

and radiant with great splendour;

and bears a likeness of You, Most High one.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through Sister Moon and the stars,

in heaven You formed them

clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through Brother Wind,

and through the air, cloudy and serene,

and every kind of weather

through which you give sustenance to your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through Sister water,

who is very useful and humble

and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through Brother fire,

through whom You light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful

and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through our Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us,

and who produces various fruit

with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through those who give pardon for Your love,

and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed those who endure in peace,

for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through our Sister Bodily Death,

from whom no one living can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death

will find in Your most holy will,

for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks

and serve Him with great humility.

Truth Telling

12th September 2026 

These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice–the kind that brings peace. Zechariah 8:16 

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. Proverbs 12:22 

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25

You Lord, our the source of all wisdom:

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Job 38: 2-14, 42:1-3

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans
    with words without knowledge?

Brace yourself like a mortal;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.

Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line across it?

On what were its footings set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—

while the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels shouted for joy?

“Who shut up the sea behind doors
    when it burst forth from the womb,

when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,

when I fixed limits for it
    and set its doors and bars in place,

when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
    here is where your proud waves halt’?

“Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,

that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked out of it?

The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
    its features stand out like those of a garment.

Then Job replied to the Lord:

“I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.

Truth telling God

You are the source of all knowledge 

and true wisdom. 

You only reveal what is true.

May we grow in trust, 

ever seeking your wisdom 

and revealing only your wisdom in this world.

 I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right Is 45:19

Truth revealing God 

May we discern your truth and wisdom 

in the words of scripture, 

in the workings of nature 

and in the example of Jesus. 

May we grow in trust, 

ever seeking your wisdom 

and revealing only your wisdom in this world.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 

Truth loving God, 

May we rejoice in the wonder of your truth, 

the beauty of your knowledge 

and the perfection of your wisdom.

May we grow in trust, 

ever seeking your wisdom 

and revealing only your wisdom in this world.

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Ps 51:6

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Amen. 

Counting on … day 89

11th September 2026

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice!”

I loved this headline from Ethical Consumer, promoting Second Hand September.

“Climate change and cost of living – if you find yourself caught between two crises, perhaps Secondhand September may help. Buying secondhand is one of the best ways to reduce both your carbon footprint and your monthly outgoings.

“Pre-loved items reduce the water, raw materials and energy associated with their production. And they’re often far cheaper than new, so you can either save money or buy better quality items than your budget would usually allow.”

Their article on second hand clothing is well worth reading – https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/ethical-clothing-choices-upcycling-repairing-second-hand

Counting on … day 88

9th September 2026

Green spaces are clearly important for mental health as well as for encouraging physical activity and well being. Research from Fields in Trust reveals that in the UK 5.6 million people do not live with 10 minutes walking access to a green space. 1 in 3 children under 9s do not have access to a playground near their home. Only 6% of green spaces are legally protected. 

To maintain access to green spaces at current levels for our growing population, would mean creating 4000 new parks by 2033. 

https://fieldsintrust.org/insights/green-space-index

Counting on … day 87

8th September 2026

Recently I was listening to an episode from Farming Today about a biodiversity restoration project in Norfolk which joined together the work of multiple farmers to create  a long nature corridor. The work sounded amazing but what really caught my attention was how, in participating and seeing the restoration of natural ecosystems with all their biodiversity, it was helping with the farmers own mental well being. Farming is not an easy profession especially when faced with droughts and floods where crops and livestock re diminished, as well facing the financial crises of rising costs for fuel and fertilisers. It is can also, I think, be quite a lonely occupation. 

https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/m0030x81

Counting on … 86

7th September 

A different aspect of resilience is maintaining good mental health. 

I know I can get over stressed by worrying about the various existential crises that we face – climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, injustice etc – and I can get into a frame of mind that says that anything I do will not be enough, that anything I do will not make a difference, and I can’t work out what to do. It becomes overwhelming and I can’t escape. 

But what do I know is that there are some things that I can do that will unwind the anxiety. One is  exercise and I do this regularly with a set pattern such that on Tuesdays for example, I will book a swim for 7.30am, then use the gym and then have breakfast in the cafe. The other is to simply go out and pay attention to the natural world – often this is sitting by the Thames, watching the river, the wildlife, the changing tides and seasons, and even just watching the people who are also enjoying the river. 

You could say that I count on nature to keep me sane!

The Feast of Creation in Christ

6th September 2026

Reflection with readings below

Feasts are times for celebration and rejoicing. Therefore the Feast of Creation in Christ should be a day for celebrating the integral relationship between creation and Christ, rejoicing in all the wonder and bounty of which we are beneficiaries.

The Feast of Creation in Christ marks the beginning of the season of Creation which ends 4th October with the feast of St Francis. Creation-tide is, I think, a time to practice a generous and respectful approach to creation. It is to be mindful that it is here in creation that we can encounter God on a daily basis. It is also a time to remember that we are part of and not above creation; that we are partners with all that lives as members of a an intricate set of ecosystems. It is by remembering our co-dependency that we will learn to live within the Earth’s planetary boundaries and in so doing, fulfil our vocation to tend and cherish the Earth.

The reading from Isaiah is rightly full of praise and joy. Yet note, it is not humans who are doing the celebrating but the landscape and the vegetation. Throughout the Bible there are many other examples of non-human beings praising and worshipping God. When we praise and worship God, we do so not alone but in union with the rest of creation. Deborah Colvin, who led last Wednesday’s Green Christian talk on living waters, encouraged us to simply listen to the sounds from creation and in silence join our prayers with them. It is so easy for us to slip into attitudes that ignore creation. Spending time in nature whether that be sitting in a garden, walking under trees, standing by a river, staring up at the clouds, and simply paying attention to what is around us, is a way of joining in the worship of God. Such attentiveness will likely also make us aware of where and how we are mistreating creation and causing God to grieve.

These sentiments are re-echoed in today’s psalm.

Both New Testament readings explore the relationship between Jesus and creation. Here we hear that Jesus being both fully God and a distinct facet of God, was integrally part of the totality of the divine will that created all that exists. Here we also hear that Jesus in becoming fully human, has become the head of the body – the community – of the people of God – also known as the Church. And is the first born raised from the dead, and the first to lead us by the way of the cross, unfolding for us the gift of salvation.

We often talk of being one in Christ when talking about baptism, or belonging to church, or taking communion. I don’t think we so often say this when we’re gardening, feeding the cat, walking in the park etc. Yet if “all things have been created through him and for him … and in him all things hold together” then all things are ‘in Christ’. This should once again reinforce for us the need to see ourselves as one with the rest of creation and not superior to any part thereof, to be willing to join with the rest of creation in worshipping God, and being eager to care for creation as both our love of neighbour and as our love of God.

Realising a new our relationship with creation and therefore with God through Christ is a time for celebration and feasting!

Isaiah 55.12−end

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,

    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.”

Psalm 96

Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendour and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Colossians 1.15−20

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

John 1.1−14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rejoice in the living waters!

5th September 2026

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3

You Lord, our the source of all wisdom:

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Ezekiel 47: 1, 8-12

The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east).

He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Praise God and rejoice,

for the living water of creation 

will make fresh our stagnant water, 

And God’s Spirit  will make fresh 

our stagnant lives.

Praise God and rejoice, 

for wherever the living water flows, 

it will restore the life of our rivers, 

bringing back fish and birds, 

mammals and insects.

And God will renew our love for them.

Praise God and rejoice, 

for wherever the living water flows, 

it will restore the life of our lands, 

bringing back birds and creatures,

plants and insects.

And God will renew our love for them.

Praise God and rejoice, 

for wherever the living water flows, 

it will restore the life of our towns and villages, 

bringing back places for leisure and opportunities for work, 

places for contemplation and opportunities for healing.

And God will renew our love for each other.

Amen.