Here’s a thoughtful prayer of intercession especially suitable for use on Earth Day (April 22, 2012) or on any other occasion when the focus is on God’s creation.
Prayer of Intercession: God in Creation
Let us pray to God,
that he will bring to fruition all that he desires for his creation.
You have created the universe by your eternal Word,
and have blessed humankind in making us stewards of the earth.
We pray for your world,
that we may share and conserve its resources,
and live in reverence for the creation
and in harmony with one another.
Father, Lord of creation,
in your mercy, hear us.
You have given the human race a rich land,
a land of streams and springs,
wheat and barley,
vines and oil and honey.
We have made by sin a world of suffering and sorrow.
We pray for those who bear the weight of affliction,
that they may come to share the life of wholeness and plenty.
Father, Lord of creation,
in your mercy, hear us.
In Christ you call us to a new way of life,
loving our neighbours before ourselves.
Help us to treat with care and respect the world as it is
as we live in hope and anticipation of the world as it will be
when your kingdom comes and your will is done.
Thank you for those, living and departed,
who have shown a true respect for your creation …
Help us to follow in their footsteps,
until, with them, we see you face to face,
where all is made new in Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
— from New Patterns for Worship, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2002. From the Church of England’s Common Worship website. Posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website. Visit that site for other good Earth Day worship resources.
For more worship resources related to creation, click on Creation care in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
