31 Jul 2024
A Prayer for Earth Overshoot Day (1 Aug)
Earth Overshoot Day is the day in the year when humanity’s use of planetary resources and ecological services in a given year exceeds what Earth’s ecosystems can regenerate or replace in that year.
In 2024, it falls on 1 August.
Keep us, Creator of nature’s cycles, from wasteful habits, steer us from carbon fuel conformity, defend us from the wiles of adverts, deflect us from unsustainable choices.
Lead us into gracious and merciful living;
generous and respectful within all you have made.
As we contemplate your creation, O God,
we see wildness and order,
chance and necessity,
Freedom and limits.
Grant us to use lovingly our freedoms
to be wise in living the order of things
And wary of our vulnerability to misleadings.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Now and forever, amen.
24 Jul 2024
Praying Together – A Prayer for the Games of Paris
On the occasion of the Paris Games, this prayer was proposed by the Council of Christian Churches in France (CECEF) with the desire that everyone can take it as their own.
Father, source of true joy, in your Son Jesus Christ you have called all nations to form a people of praise to celebrate you. Let us lead the race to the end.
God who is God, look now on France, which will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Grant that they may organize this event in joy, peace and fraternity.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on all those who are working for the realization of the games, on all the people who will come from the four corners of the Earth and on the athletes.
Grant them the virtue necessary to give the best of themselves. May athletes get the support – in times of joy and trial, of successes and failures – from their loved ones, their coaches and our prayers.
Help the French people, Lord, as they welcome all those who have come from all over the world.
Brought together in the common passion for sport with the motto of the Olympic Games “faster, higher, stronger – together”, let them together convey your love for every human being.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
Council of Christian Churches in France (CECEF)
Background to the prayer (in French):
17 Jul 2024
A prayer written by Martyn Payne:
Keeper of our steps,
keeper of our senses,
keeper of our souls,
keep us as the apple of your eye;
keep us in your perfect peace;
keep us in our going out and our coming in;
for you are the strongest keep
within the walls of our life.
Amen.
10 Jul 2024
A Prayer for Sea Sunday (14 Jul)
The Pilot Psalm
Psalm 23 adapted by Captain John H Roberts, 1874
The Lord’s my Pilot; I shall not drift. He lights me across the dark waters;
He steers me in deep channels;
He keeps my log.
He guides me by the star of holiness for his name’s sake.
Even though I sail amid the thunder and tempest of life,
I will dread no danger, for you are near me; Your love and your care, they
shelter me. You prepare a harbour before me in the homeland of eternity;
You anoint the waves with oil, and my ship rides calmly.
Surely sunlight and starlight shall favour me on the voyage I take,
And I will rest in the port of our God for ever.
03 Jul 2024
A prayer for politicians
| Lord of our island kingdom, because you declare that ‘righteousness exalts a nation’,* raise up local and national leaders in this coming election, who will put people before profit; justice before power; truth before popularity; mercy before personal gain; and who seek the good of all people, for your name’s sake. Amen. *Proverbs 14:34 (NIV) |
