Love, Joy & Peace: Prayers for the Climate and Ecological Emergency

Send us Fan MailVoice and Words by Jon SwalesMusic from Scott Buckley Father of Creation,God of Justice.Your kingdom is one of love, joy and peace. For this, we give you praise.In this time of climate breakdown, Temperature rises will act as a threat multiplier Across the worldThrough food shortages and extreme weather, Our neighbours will suffer.Our neighbours in vulnerable nations,Our neighbours in future generations.This suffering may work alongside a climate apartheid world in which we Build walls,Prioritise the western world,Silence the voices of the oppressed,Whilst keeping ourselves busy with consumeristic hedonism.In this world of climate breakdown,Prepare your church for love,That we would be a community which extends the table, So that the marginalised may find a place.Prepare your church for love,That we would be thoseWho listen to the voices of the oppressed.Prepare your church for love,That we would be thoseWho love the Lord God with all our heart, mind and soul, And love our neighbours,Both global and future, As ourselves.Remove from us our idolatrous hearts,Which, through consumerism, consumes more than we need at the expense of the world's most vulnerable.Father of Creation,God of Justice.Your kingdom is one of love, joy and peace. For this, we give you praise.In this time of climate breakdown,Temperature rises will act as a threat multiplier Across the world,As climate grief increases,As once hoped for futures seem to be reduced to ash, As mourning and grief increase.In a world of climate grief,Prepare your church for hope and joy,That we would be those who speak truth in a culture of despair,Prepare your church for hope and joy,That we would be those who celebrate the gift of life, With simplicity and gratitude.Prepare your church for hope and joy,That we would be those who are rooted and grounded in the hope and joy of Jesus.Remove from us our idolatrous hearts which can wander down the paths of denial and despair. Make us, in Christ, hope and joy-filled realists.Father of Creation,God of Justice.Your kingdom is one of love, joy and peace. For this, we give you praise.In this time of climate breakdown,We will see temperature rises act as a threat multiplier Across the world.Through food shortages and increased migration,We will see an increase in conflict,With a potential for sustained violenceLocally,Regionally,Globally.Lord have mercy.In this world of climate breakdown, Prepare your church for peace.That we would be a community of shalom, that works for the healing of the nations.Prepare your church for peace,That we would be thoseWho take up the cross and lay down the sword.Prepare your church for peace,That we would be thoseWho move and actWith a commitment to self-giving sacrificial love.Prepare your church for peace, That we would be thoseWho act as peacemakers For the peaceable kingdom.Remove from us our idolatrous hearts,Which bow the knee to nationalism and militarism At the expense of the world's most vulnerable.Father of Creation,God of Justice,Your kingdom is one of love, joy and peace. For this, we give you praise.To you be all praise, honour and glory.