Prayer Vigil for the Care of Creation: November
Christians around the world came together from September 1st to October 4th for prayer vigils, reflection and concrete actions around care for creation [http://www.seasonofcreation.org].
After our suggestions for September and October and as the COP26 begins in Glasgow, below you will find a service order for a vigil for November inspired by the common prayer in Taizé.
Suggestion of service order for a time of prayer
Song
Let all who are thirsty come
Psalm
Alleluia 17 can be sung between each verse
- Lord, you are my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
- Fresh and green are the pastures where you give me repose. Near restful waters you lead me, to revive my drooping spirit.
- You guide me along the right path; you are true to your name.
- If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.
- You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
- Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.
Psalm 23
Reading
Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.‘For God so loved the world that God gave God’s only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Song
Ubi Caritas
Silence
Prayer for Creation
The first two intercessions come from Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si”, the next three from Taizé and the last three were received by the Iona Community and from young people in Taizé. Between each intercession Kyrie 10 can be sung.
1) Loving God, we entrust to you all the young people who are undertaking new projects or making commitments for the care of the planet. -We pray to you.
2) Creator God, you are with us always; sustain us in our struggle for justice, love and peace. -We pray to you.
3) That we may be delivered from all anxiety, Lord, we pray.
4) That we may learn to share more fairly the resources of our planet among all, Lord, we pray.
5) That a sense of wonder at the beauty of creation may remain alive in us, Lord, we pray.
6) Creator of the lives we lost and lament, may we turn our guns into pruning tools, our missiles into hoes, our drones into harvesters, and grow food for a people at peace. Hear us we pray. (from Iona, Scotland)
7) Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful Earth that you have given us. We thank you for the tallest mountains, the deepest seas, the flattest plains, the rainiest forest, the hottest desert, the coldest tundras. We thank you for everything. Teach us to do what we can that we might not harm this Earth that you have given. Hear us we pray. (from USA / Latvia)
8) Lord Jesus, you are the light that comes out of the darkness. May your light shine on all the people involved in COP26 so that our minds may be enlightened by your Gospel (from France)
Our Father
Prayer by Brother Alois
God of love, as we remain in your presence, you give us a sense of the infinite beauty of creation, of all that comes from you. Today, with so many people across the globe, we want to stay alert to the climate emergency and the safeguarding of our wonderful planet. You sustain our hope.
Songs
Señor que florezca tu justicia
Laudate omnes gentes
Behüte mich Gott
Here is the pdf version of the service order
October: suggestion of service order for a time of prayer
Song
Let all who are thirsty come
Psalm
Alleluia 17 can be sung between each verse
- O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
- Proclaim God’s help day by day,
tell among the nations God’s glory
and wonders among all the peoples.
- It was the Lord who made the heavens.
Majesty and honour and power are the Lord’s
and splendour in God’s holy place.
- Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
- Let the land and all it bears rejoice,
all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord who comes.
from Psalm 96
Reading
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
Song
Señor, que florezca tu justicia
Silence
Prayer for Creation
The first three intercessions come from Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” and the last three were received by the Iona Community and from young people in Taizé. Between each intercession Kyrie 10 can be sung.
1) Loving God, you are present in the universe and in the least of your creatures, surround all that exists with your tenderness. -We pray to you.
2) Creator God, teach us to take care of creation, where everything speaks to us of you. -We pray to you.
3) God, creator, fill us with your peace, so that we can live together as brothers and sisters. -We pray to you.
4) Holy Spirit, Creator, in the beginning you moved over the waters. -Holy Spirit, come!
5) Holy Spirit, Creator, from your breath all creatures drew their life. -Come, comforting Spirit.
6) Lord Jesus, gather like chicks under your wings all your children who have lost their homes due to climate disasters and grant them shelter with you. Lord, hear us we pray. (from Scotland/USA)
7) For the new generations in the midst of their fears, their worries and their desperate attempts to change the structures endangering their future: give them hope beyond all hope. (from Germany)
8) May God above who takes care of the lilies, guide us as we remind each other to take care of the lilies, birds of the air and our environment. (from Uganda)
Our Father
Prayer by Brother Alois
Loving God, you enable us to perceive the infinite beauty of creation, of all that comes from you. Increase in us our gratitude for all that you give. And make us even more mindful of those who suffer, you, the Saviour of all life.
Songs
Surrexit Dominus Vere
Bóg jest miłością
I am sure I shall see
Here is the pdf version of the service order
September: suggestion of service order for a time of prayer
Song
The Kingdom of God
Psalm
Alleluia 17 can be sung between each verse
- How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
Your majesty is praised above the heavens;
on the lips of children and of babes.
- When I see the heavens, the work of your hands,
the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what are we that you should keep us in mind,
mere mortals that you care for us?
- You gave us power over the work of your hands,
put all things under our feet.
All of them, sheep and cattle,
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish
that make their way through the waters.
- How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
Psalm 8
Reading
And when Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A gale arose on the lake, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’
Song
Señor, que florezca tu justicia
Silence
Prayer for Creation
The first six intercessions come from Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” and the last two were received by the Iona Community. Between each intercession Kyrie 10 can be sung.
1) Loving God, you are present in the universe and in the least of your creatures, surround all that exists with your tenderness. -We pray to you.
2) Creator God, teach us to take care of creation, where everything speaks to us of you. -We pray to you.
3) Loving God, we pray for all who suffer from fire and water, earthquakes and storms. May they remain hopeful in spite of their difficulties. -We pray to you.
4) Creator God, awaken our praise and our gratitude; give us the grace to feel intimately united to all that exists. -We pray to you.
5) Loving God, we entrust to you all the people, especially the youngest ones, who are implementing new projects in the face of the climate emergency. -We pray to you.
6) Creator God, you are with us always; sustain us in our struggle for justice, love and peace. -We pray to you.
7) Lord, give us the courage to believe change is possible and the conviction to take the necessary steps to create the groundswell to make it happen. (from Papua New Guinea)
8) Lord, allow us to see the world through your eyes, and move us to align ourselves with your will for our planet. (from Brazil)
Our Father
Prayer by Brother Alois
God our Father, you set us free, free in order to love those you entrust to us; free also to look in a new way upon creation. All that is created comes from you as a gift which you entrust to us. In Christ Jesus, we praise you, through the Holy Spirit.
Songs
Tu sei sorgente viva
Behüte mich Gott
Sit nomen Domini
Here is the pdf of the prayer:
[1]
[1] Photo: Cédric Nisi