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Praying for Rio+20

14th June 2012 - by Ellen Teague

Brazil, which is hosting the Rio+20 Earth Summit 20-22 June, is holding a Day of Prayer for a Just and Sustainable World on the weekend 16/17 June and invites Christians internationally to join in. Thanks to Tearfund for the following prayer material:

 

‘By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’
Philippians 4:6
As Christians, we believe that prayer is vital in bringing about change in our world and it helps us to be open to change too. In Brazil, churches are joining together in praying for environmental issues and are inviting others from around the world to join them on 16/17 June – the weekend before the week of the Rio+20 summit which starts on 20 June. We hope that you and your church will join us in praying to the God of creation and to also act in response. Please pray with us: for the people who are affected by climate change, and for those who have the power to make a difference.

BIBLE READING – Psalm 19: 1-10
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his
hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal
knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the
world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing
to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing
is deprived of its warmth.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

PRAYER – MOMENT OF CONFESSION
God, Blessed Creator.
In your presence we pour out our hearts.
Lord, we confess our sins that stain the sanctity of all creation.
Our wild consumerism that has exhausted the earth and our greed that has
caused hunger, destruction and inequality.
We ask for forgiveness that we have not been good stewards of your garden,
that manifests your Glory.
We ask for forgiveness as our style of life is often rotten and has left a bad
smell in your nostrils.
Free us from ruining the green valleys and polluting the tranquil waters that
refresh the soul.
In Jesus Christ who poured out His blood to reconcile everything.
Amen!

MOMENT OF PRAISE/WORSHIP
I want to praise you
I always want to praise you more and more!
I always want to praise you more and more!
Search for what you want, to know your grace, I want to praise you!
The birds of the sky sing for you, the wild animals of the field reflect your
power.
I want to sing, I want to lift my hands to you!
I want to love you …
I want to serve you …

MOMENT OF SHARING THE PEACE AND COMMUNION
Poem by Gladir Cabral
Care for the birds and also the flowers, they wait for your love!
Make your home a nest and the world ground where you plant peace and
communion!
So that the bud grows, a living seed;
So that we have that seed to gather.
So that the bread that comes into being for us will be a sign of the plan of
life.
Make a new house on the verandah of the old floor.
Invite your brother and sister to live with you.
Plant new walls, made to serve your home and shelter.
Make a delicious breakfast.
Put a table in the garden.
Leave the plants as they are.
Have peace with you;
Invite the universe.
Have a party!
Look after your home.
Look after the small world!
Allow your neighbour to be close.

PRAYERS FOR RIO+20.
Spend some time in praying out loud as a group for climate change issues:
Leaders from across the world are meeting from 20-22 June to discuss what
action they’ve achieved on the environment and what more they can do.
Please pray for these talks:
• Give thanks for the opportunities the Rio+20 summit brings for countries to
restate and step up their commitments on these issues.
• Please pray that all governments will prepare for the summit well, including
listening to the voices of people concerned about environmental degradation
and climate change.
Join us to pray for creation and our global neighbours who depend on it:
• For protection, strength and perseverance for poor communities who are
being pushed further into poverty by the changing climate.
• For the global church to be bold as it speaks out for governments to
respond.
• For governments across the world to take the urgent and ambitious action
needed.

Prayer from Progressio inspired by the Rio+20 conference:
Holy God,
Creator of all.
The earth is yours and all within it.
May we cherish this gift now
and steward it so that future generations can cherish it also.
May we listen to the voices of those who are poor
who call on us to be in solidarity.
Give us the strength of you Spirit
to imagine a world without poverty,
and to respond with generosity
throughout all aspects of our lives
so that all may have their potential fulfilled.
Fill us, O God, with passion,
Passion for a world that is truly just.
Amen

Further Liturgy material at:
http://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Prayers1.pdf

Take Action

Ask you MP to support the Rio Connection and find out more about the international summit:
http://www.cafod.org.uk/rio
http://www.progressio.org.uk/rio

National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales Statement and Briefing on Rio+20
http://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/documents/Rio20StatementFINAL21May_000.pdf
http://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/documents/Rio20BriefingFINAL21May_002.pdf