Prayer for Climate Justice

Creator God, thank you for the precious gift of the earth.

For land and sea and sky- for mountains and valleys; for lakes, rivers and oceans, for the sun, moon and stars.

We thank you for all the creatures you created; from the smallest ant to the largest whale and all that’s in between.  For the birds of the sky, the insects of the crevices, the fish of the seas.

For seasons of the year and cycles of nature – a time to sow, a time to grow, and a time to harvest and rest.  Thank you for the peace and restoration we find in the natural world and the many ways it gives us refuge,  solace, comfort and inspiration.

You set us apart to tend and look after your earth, to steward it and help it flourish. You gave us the will and the mind to learn and to act, but we have taken it for granted and have exploited it for our own needs.  As humans, we have been greedy, selfish, and destructive. We have harmed people, animals, and the earth itself.

We lament the levels of biodiversity loss brought on by our need for more buildings, infrastructure, and more production of all kinds.

Loving God, we pray now for justice for those affected by climate change, especially in poorer countries.

Often, they have contributed the least to its causes, but are suffering the most and more severely.  Help us remember the families that have been driven away from their homes, communities and livelihoods due to extreme weathers like wildfires, floods or droughts- the many thousands who are now elsewhere, apart, and separate from where they used to call home. Teach us to appreciate all that we have and be mindful of those who have less – especially the basics of life like food, clean water, and shelter. We pray for knowledge and understanding for world leaders in their roles as facilitators and decision-makers – that you will grant them the courage to act for the good of all mankind and the planet.

Equip us to live more thoughtfully, kindly and to tread lightly on this planet. We pray for individual and collective wisdom and boldness to act in more meaningful ways, and to speak up when we need to.

AMEN

Delyth Higgins, Eco Church Officer-Wales, A Rocha UK

Duw y Creawdwr, diolchwn am y ddaear hon, a roddaist i ni.

Diolchwn am y moroedd,y tir a’r awyr- y mynyddoedd a’r dyffrynnoedd, yr afonydd a’r llynnoedd, y nos, y sêr a’r lleuad. Diolchwn am yr holl greaduriaid a greaist ti – o’r lleiaf i’r mwyaf. Am dymhorau’r flwyddyn ac am beth maent yn ei ddysgu i ni – bod amser i hau, amser i dyfu, i gynaeafu ac i orffwys. Mae natur yn creu lle i ni orfoleddu a chael ysbrydoliaeth ond hefyd cyfleoedd i ddarganfod heddwch, cysur ac adnewyddiad.

Cofiwn i ti ein gosod ar wahân i ofalu am y greadigaeth, i’w stiwardio a’i hadfer, ond rydym wedi ei defnyddio ar gyfer ein dibenion ein hun – rydym wedi bod yn hunanol ac wedi ei chymryd yn ganiataol. Galarwn yn awr am y colledion i fioamrywiaeth y byd- y planhigion, yr anifeiliad a’r adar sy’n dioddef ac yn diflannu. Erfyniwn am dy faddeuant.

Duw y Cariad, gweddiwn dros y rheiny sy’n dioddef fwyaf o achos newid hinsawdd – yn aml y tlotaf sydd wedi cyfrannu cyn lleied iddo. Cofiwn am y niferoedd sydd wedi gorfod gadael eu cartrefi, eu cymunedau a’u bywoliaeth oherwydd tywydd eithafol fel llifogydd, tanau gwyllt neu sychder.  Gwna ni yn fwy ymwybodol o beth sydd gennym ni ac o’r rheiny sy’n llai ffodus – yn enwedig o ran pethau sylfaenol fel bwyd, dŵr glan a tho uwch eu pennau.  Gweddiwn am wybodaeth a deallusrwydd i arweinwyr ein byd wrth iddyn nhw hwyluso a chymryd penderfyniadau mawr – y byddant yn gweithredu er lles pennaf y ddynoliaeth a’r blaned.

Cynorthwya ni i fyw yn fwy ymwybodol, yn fwy caredig ac yn fwy ‘ysgafn’ yn ein bywyd bob dydd. Gweddiwn am ddoethineb a dewrder i ni fel unigolion ac fel cymdeithas weithredu mewn modd fwy meddylgar a chodi llais pan fydd angen.

AMEN

Delyth Higgins, Swyddog Eco Church-Cymru, A Rocha UK