Prayer Service
SONG
Laudate Dominum or Ubi Caritas
PSALM
from Psalm 104
An Alleluia can be sung after each verse. Can also be sung antiphonal style
O Lord, how numerous are your works,
wisely you accomplished them all,
your fullness covers the earth,
the whole creation hopes in you.
You send out your creating breath,
you renew the face of the earth.
Forever the glory of the Lord!
May the Lord be glad in his works!
All my life long, I will sing for the Lord,
while I live, I will praise my God;
may the Lord take pleasure in my words,
since all my joy is in God.
Reading 1
John 7:37-39
On this Earth, our common home, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation. Let us hear the Word of the Lord:
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this Jesus meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
Reading 2
(From Pope Francis’ Message for the celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation -1 September 2023)
“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme of this year’s ecumenical Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24).
The evocative image used by Amos speaks to us of what God desires. God wants justice to reign; it is as essential to our life as God’s children made in his likeness as water is essential for our physical survival. This justice must flow forth wherever it is needed, neither remaining hidden deep beneath the ground nor vanishing like water that evaporates before it can bring sustenance. God wants everyone to strive to be just in every situation, to live according to his laws and thus to enable life to flourish. When we “seek first the kingdom of God” (Mt 6:33), maintaining a right relationship with God, humanity and nature, then justice and peace can flow like a never-failing stream of pure water, nourishing humanity and all creatures….
How can we contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this Season of Creation? What can we, particularly as Christian communities, do to heal our common home so that it can once again teem with life? We must do this by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies.
SILENCE / SHARING
CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, 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 splendor; 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 whom 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 colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are 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.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.
Praise be to you! Amen.
OUR FATHER
Pray the traditional version of the Lord’s Prayer or the following version by Jim Cotter adapted in the New Zealand Prayer Book:
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your communion of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on Earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
In this Season of Creation, as followers of Christ on our shared synodal journey,
let us live, work and pray that our common home will teem with life once again.
May the Holy Spirit once more hover over the waters
and guide our efforts to “renew the face of the earth” (cf. Ps 104:30).
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
