A Rocha – Prayers for Creation

A Rocha

Prayers of Confession & Intercession for Creation.

Originally used in York on 13th May 2007 by Lindsay Schuman

Holy Father, you are an awesome God. We come before you and we thank you for your creativity and your generosity in sharing with us the world we live in. We praise you for the beauty of the natural world and intricacy of how you fit all things together.

In Genesis we read ‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’ Lord, we are painfully aware of how we have neglected to look after your earth. We hear of environmental pollution, ozone destruction, loss of forests and global warming and it is plain that we have not been good stewards of your planet. Forgive us, Lord for taking your world for granted and for the disrespect we have shown. Lord, we are sorry for our omissions and our emissions, which have had such a terrible impact on our world. We humble ourselves before you and ask your forgiveness.

Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer.

Father help us to take our stewardship seriously. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by giant issues such as climate change, Lord would you reveal to us how we can respond both as individuals and as your Body, the Church. We pray, Lord, that you would highlight to us over the coming weeks, those areas you would have us address in our own lives. Give us ears ready to hear your promptings, Lord.  Would you be working within us. Please allow alterations in our lifestyles to be acts of worship to you.

Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer.

Lord, guard the hearts and motives of those people who lead us. We pray that you would bless those in authority with a genuine heart for your world. Lord, inspire our leaders to see their environmental responsibility as a matter of priority and importance, rather than political expediency. we pray for your hand over lawmakers and ask that you give them wisdom in deciding where limits should be set.

Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer.

Father God, we are blessed to live in a country where provision is plentiful and we thank you for the clean water, food and electricity that are so readily available. Father, help us to resist the temptations associated with abundance. Help us to see honestly what we need and what we don’t. Keep us thankful and appreciative and protect us from greed and waste.

Lord in your mercy...Hear our prayer.

Father, we pray for a growing global understanding of how our lifestyles and choices impact on other people and on our planet. We pray for a move of your Spirit throughout the nations. We pray Lord that you would enable countries to shoulder their share of the responsibility for safeguarding the environment. We pray that you would provide the means for greenhouse gases to be cut and climatic disasters to be avoided. We lift up to you those developing nations liable to be affected worst by drought and flood and we pray for your hand of protection.

Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer.

Challenge us Lord when we choose convenience over conscience; when we love ourselves more than our neighbours. Help us to accept our responsibilities and give your Church a voice in the international debate. We pray that your Church would be at the forefront of a move for social and environmental change.

Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.

Finally Father, we pray that you would change our hearts to be in line with your heart, even if this means sacrifice. We thank you that you made us stewards of your creation and that your natural world is so incredible. Thank you for giving it to us to enjoy and look after and give us passionate hearts to defend and preserve this world which belongs to you.

Lord in your mercy….Hear our prayer.