Tag: Youth

Midday Prayers during COP26

Friday 5th November 2021

Let’s seek God with all our heart

Amen. God be our centre.

Let’s seek God with all our soul

Amen. God be our vision.

Let’s seek God with all our mind

Amen. God be our wisdom.

Let’s seek God with all our strength

Amen. God be our souls’ shelter.

(From https://ourcommonprayer.org/2021/08/30/mondays-in-climate-emergency/)

Reading: And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your elders will dream dreams, your youth will see visions. Joel 2:28

On this the fourth day of COP26 the focus will be on youth and public empowerment, so let us pray:- 

We pray for all the participants,

the decision-makers and the protestors,

the bureaucrats and the prayerful,

influencers and bankers,

shareholders and investors,

for producers and consumers.

May they recognise and be inspired

by the passion and maturity

of our young people from across the globe.

May they prioritise the needs of future generations

over short term convenience.

May they embrace youth’s vision of a better future.

Loving and patient God,

may your will be done.

All: Amen.

When advertisers exhort us to drive ever larger fast cars –

We shall not comply.

When fashion houses entreat us to buy clothes for the beach and more for barbecue, clothes for lounging and more for reclining – 

We shall not comply.

When top chefs urge us to buy tropical fruits and exotic grains, to eat strawberries in January and avocados in September –

We shall not comply.

When tour companies tout trips to the Tropics, all flights included,  

or city breaks by air –

We shall not comply.

When weekend magazines promote this season’s new colour schemes wall paper and furnishing, out with the old and in with the new –

We shall not comply.

When tech industries unveil this year’s new phone, the upgraded tablet and irreparable head sets –

We shall not comply.

When governments tell us  that coal mines are good and ask for our vote –

We shall not comply.

When trend setters define the next must-have accessory and deride what was last season’s in thing – 

We shall not comply.

When politicians tell us national needs are all important and foreigners must wait – 

We shall not comply.

Holy God, 

keep awake in us a true love for the earth, 

its flora and fauna, our brothers and sisters.

Strengthen our resolve to live within our means, 

to act with compassion, and following your will –

We shall COMPLY!

Counting On …

Friday 5th November

Counting On … is a follow on from the 100 days count down that preceded the start of COP26. Counting on is counting the days thereafter but I hope more importantly it will help us focus on people and groups – including ourselves – that the world is counting on to restrain and transform the current climate crisis. Today at COP26 the theme is youth and public empowerment – and young people both here in Britain and across the world are keen and willing – and already participating in transformative action. 

“The YCCN’s relay to COP26 is currently covering 1,200 miles from Cornwall to Glasgow to campaign for decisions to be made that protect people – not bank balances – and that ensure no country will go into debt tackling climate change.” 

Whilst in the Caribbean Christians Zakour is one of the young participants of the ‘Our Action, Our Future’ project. She is a master’s student in Biodiversity and Conservation from Trinidad and Tobago.

“My generation are the inheritors and rights holders of the future with significant capacity and drive to make changes for the better. In this action research project, the team of researchers and policy leaders get together to capture the value of youth, convert the youth as an asset class so that our action and future can be aligned”. (https://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/empowering-youth-small-states-forefront-commonwealth-cop26-agenda)