DAYS OF PRAYER EARTH DAY - 22ND APRIL 2021 - BCD churches

DAYS OF PRAYER
  EARTH DAY
   22 ND APRIL 2021

EARTH DAY
                         The Creator of the Universe
                         calls us to leave the darkness
                         behind and live in the light. Our
                         Lord Jesus Christ who lived and
                         died and rose again greets us
                         today. The One who danced at
                         Creation’s birth calls us now
                         into the Presence. So come, let
                         us PRAY…
https://arocha.org.uk/

https://youtu.be/-LsqrROrAcM

If the fields are parched
and the trees are felled
will the rocks cry aloud on their own?
If the birds are starved
and the beasts are killed
will the bones in the dust lift a song?
Have mercy, Lord,
have mercy, Lord.
Forgive our broken ways.
Have mercy, Lord,
have mercy, Lord.
Renew the world you made
As the oceans rise
and the wells run dry
do we care if disaster is near?
If our children starve
will they cry to God?
will they curse us for closing our ears?
Still a day will come
when the Lord returns
and the earth will be perfect again
No more greed or war,
no more tooth and claw,
for the wolf and the lamb will be friends
 2020 Chris Juby / Resound Worship

Let us turn to the Lord of Creation…
    ◦ Sometimes, O God, Your Word is hard for us. Sometimes, O God, we don’t
      want to hear You. Sometimes, O God, we’d rather sing our nice hymns,
      pray our comforting prayers, and turn away from what You require. Send
      Your Holy Spirit, that we may turn to You, in Word read and proclaimed,
      that we may listen, understand, change and obey. Amen.

Reading from Ecclesiasticus 43:9-22

9 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, a gleaming array in the heights
of the Lord…
22 A mist quickly heals all things; when the dew appears, it refreshes from the
heat.

A prayer reminding us to walk gently upon the Earth…as if our feet were kissing the ground…

Let us pray, in silent adoration

‘Restore Our Earth!’

This is the cry of the 2021 Earth Day Movement. Over
the past two days there have been workshops, panel
discussions, a conference, a youth summit and loud
‘wake-up’ calls to the World’s Climate Leaders.

‘We must Restore Our Earth not just because we
care about the natural world, but because we
live on it. Every one of us needs a healthy Earth
to support our jobs, livelihoods, health &
survival, and happiness. A healthy planet is not
an option — it is a necessity.’

[Plogging – picking up litter while jogging! This
is on my ‘to do’ but I’ll be walking, not jogging]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLPP3XmYxXg
My life goes on in endless song
Above earth´s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I´m clinging.
Since love prevails in heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I know the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I´m clinging.
Since love prevails in heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin,
I see the blue above it
And day by day this pathway smooths
Since first I learned to love it
No storm can shake my in-most calm
I hear the music ringing
It sounds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?

Loving Lent 2021 BCD Young People’s prayer
Creator of the Earth, we thank You for Nature. We thank you for books to teach us
about Your World. Jesus came to teach us to love one another and share the food
we have and to enjoy the sun and rain. We thank You too for the amazing wildlife
we have. Help us to look after all the animals and insects and birds which live
around us. Amen.

May the One to whom every knee shall bow
and every tongue praise, enfold you in loving kindness.
May the One who was nailed to a tree for challenging the powers,
give you grace to challenge the lies of this age.
May the One who sustains Creation inspire such love in you,
that you remain unsatisfied until the Earth is healed.
And may the blessing of Almighty God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all whom you love
now and always
Amen.