Eternal Spirit of the universe, you make a pink flower from a gray seed, an ear from a kernel, a carrot from a seed the size of a pinhead, an oak tree from an acorn. You have programmed your soil to provide food for your plants, wooden trees to make apples, feathered hens to lay eggs, grass-eating cows to give milk. And you, grand Creator, you have us take care of your grand creation. In your mercy, Sustainer of all, send rain to water our crops and gardens. Let your sun shine on our fields so that seeds will produce abundantly, so that vines and stalks and trees will hang heavy with fruit and grain. And God, let your grace be as rich to our cattle as it is to us; let it keep our hogs free of disease, our hens laying eggs, and our cows giving milk. May our animals be fertile; may our lambs and calves and pigs frolic in your green pastures so that even in their play we may see your grace.
In Your mercy,
Hear our prayer
Eternal Father-Mother-God, help us to live on your good earth, preserving and caring for the life and soil you bless, ever thankful that for our good you gave your laws of nature and your law of love. Help us for our good and your glory to see those laws as you see them and as the psalmist saw them, as good and perfect, pleasant to think about. Fountain of wisdom, teach us to share the abundance you have given us, never gloating in our excess but always giving our first bushels to feed the hungry in your name. Enlighten our hearts so that our thank-yous ever rise in a crescendo to your throne.
In Your mercy,
Hear our prayer
God of beauty and of justice, we pray for the earth, for restoration of soil, air, and water. We pray for all people you have created, for restoration of dignity and hope. We pray for our nation and community, for restoration of our sense of responsibility in service. We pray even for ourselves, for restoration of our resolve to love you and the world you made.
In Your mercy,
Hear our prayer
O Great Spirit whose voice we hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear us. We come before you as your children. We are small and weak; we need your strength and wisdom. Let us walk in beauty and make our eyes ever behold the purple and red sunset. May our hands respect the things you have made, our ears to be sharp to hear your voice. Make us wise, so that we may know the things you have taught your people, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. We seek strength not to be superior to our brothers and sisters, but to live in harmony with ourselves and all your creation. Help us to be ever ready to come to you, so when life fades as a fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame. In Christ’s name we pray.
AMEN
This prayer meshed together language from the United Methodist Book of Worship and the Worship Sourcebook.
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