RESPONSIVE READING

 

As we enjoy our abundance of wealth,

     we pray for all who are hungry.

May they be freed from unnecessary lack of sustenance. 

 

Hear your people’s plea. 

 

As we celebrate the joys of creation

We pray for the people who are denied their share.

May the earth and everything in it

  be for the benefit of all human beings. 

 

Hear your people’s plea. 

 

As we benefit from cheap farm labor,

     we pray for the producers and workers

     who are deprived of their just reward.

May all created goods flow freely and abundantly for all. 

 

Hear your people’s plea. 

 

(adapted from “For the Benefit of All,” by Tony Singleton, at www.cafod.org.uk/resources/worship/trade)

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Gracious God, you have given us riches in abundance. We confess that by sin, selfishness, and neglect, we have made a world of suffering and sorrow, of waste and exploitation.  We confess that too often we only stand by as others bear the weight of affliction – that we hoard your gifts, rather than share your wholeness and plenty.  Lord of abundance, in your mercy, open our hearts and hands, for all we have belongs to you.  Amen.

 

(adapted from “Confessions,” at www.portsmouth.anglican.org/fileadmin/images/bishop/liturgy/ecology_texts.rtf)

 

God’s Abundant Goodness 

 

Generous Savior, who daily feeds us bread from heaven, 

 You have given us bread to eat not of our own making – 

Your own self and Your own creation.   

What is it that You so richly provide for us 

 and ask nothing in return but that we share Your bread with others?

 

Yet, we grab Your bounty for ourselves alone.  

We lay hold of silver and gold, 

 amassing riches beyond our need.

We buy lands and mark them off as if our own.

We hide away Your provision for a day that may never come.

 

Like children, we become angry when You ask us to share.

We fear that we may find ourselves without. 

We complain when we cannot have more and more.

Generous Spirit, change our hearts so that 

     we not let Your bounty rot in our hands.

 

Cause us to remember Your holy promises.

In the Old Testament and New, You have taught us that 

 You can spread a table in the wilderness --

  manna from heaven and water from a rock,

  food for thousands from a few broken loaves and fishes.

 

You provide our daily bread in abundance.

All can eat and be satisfied 

 if we do not take too much. 

Give us the spirit of “Sabbath economics” and

      cause us to remember that Your bread is ours for sharing.

Generous God, let the many, not just the few, celebrate your abundant goodness.

 

(by B. J. Morton)

 

Everlasting riches

 

Living God, call to us,

For our altars are draped with cloth of gold

And silver ornaments adorn our worship.* 

 

Creator God, awaken us,

For our hearts are cloaked with cloth of gold

And silver coins adorn our dreams. 

 

Loving God, forgive us

For we trade our lives for cloth of gold

And silver coins that buy our silence. 

 

Lord, open our hearts wide to your wisdom

And our lives to your compassion*

As we walk towards the everlasting riches

Of your kingdom. 

 

(© Linda Jones/CAFOD --  used with permission.  *Line adapted)

 

 

For the Right Use of God’s Gifts

 

Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all that we possess:  Grant us grace that we may honor you with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.    

 

(The Book of Common Prayer, p. 827)