Praying with the Earth

Prayer of Awareness

(prayers are adapted from Philip Newell Praying with the Earth)

 In this sacred time, in this day

we seek your countenance among us, O God,

in the countless forms of creation all around us,

in the sun’s rising glory,

in the face of friend and stranger.

Your Presence within every presence

your Light within all light

your Heart at the heart of this moment.

May the fresh light of morning wash our sight

that we may see your Life in every Life this day and each day.

 

 

Prayer for the Life of the World

It is when we are still that we know.

It is when we listen that we hear.

It is when we remember that we see Your light, O God.

From your Stillness we come.

With your Sound all life quivers with being.

From You the light of this moment shines.

Grant us to remember you at the heart of each moment.

Grant us to remember.

To the home of peace, to the field of love,

 to the land where forgiveness and right relationships meet,

we look, O Holy One,

with longing for earth’s children,

with compassion for the creatures,

with hearts breaking for the nations and people we love.

Open us to visions we have never known;

strengthen us for self-givings we have never made;

delight us with a oneness we could never have imagined,

 that we may truly be born of You, makers of peace.

 

... time for silent prayer…

 

… we join in the prayer Jesus taught:

 

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive

 those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

(The Lord’s Prayer, Ecumenical Version, VU#921)

 

Prayer of Blessing

Peace where there is war,

healing where there is hurt

memory where we have forgotten the other.

Vision where there is violence,

light where there is madness

sight where we have blinded each other.

Comfort where there is sorrow,

tears where there is hardness

laughter where we have missed life’s joy

laughter when we remember the joy.