God of sea and sky,
God of this great earth laid out under the sun,
we come with thanks on our lips and praise in our hearts.
Thank you for life and breath,
and senses to experience the beauty all around us.
Thank you for the dear ones we love, those around us, those far away,
and those who we will only see again in heaven, by your mercy.
We ask for your comfort for those who grieve
and those who are sick, especially…
Today, we come with prayers for this earth,
and help for humankind as we live upon it.
Show us the way to live responsibly, not wastefully.
Open a curiosity in us to learn about the fish in streams and lakes nearest to us,
curiosity about the birds that fly over us,
curiosity about the wild creatures, our neighbours.
We don’t want to walk by on the other side
ignoring the living beings you have put in our path.
Clean water, clean air, wild spaces are what you created:
open our eyes to how our actions impact our neighbours.
Give wisdom to politicians as they make decisions
that will affect generations after us.
Help us amplify the voice of First Nations and Inuit elders,
the water walkers and the ones who see,
prophets whose words are sent by you to guide us.
Those of us who are settlers live and worship you in buildings
built on their traditional territory.
We need paths to peace where treaties have been broken.
God you offer us a hope-filled future,
and you will show us how we can get there from here.
Be our guide in all we do and say this week,
Amen
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I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.