RESPONSIVE READING

 

Generous and loving God, Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth and all that is,

       here in Western North Carolina we praise You.

 

When our earth was a formless void covered in darkness,

         You called forth light --

         the sun to guide us by day, the moon and stars to lighten our darkness.

You retained darkness to draw us to rest.

You created light and darkness and they are good.

 

By Your holy word, 

         You called forth the heavens, the earth, mighty waters and slow-moving streams.

You gathered together the expanse of the skies.

You set the dry land apart from the waters.

You measured the waters as in a cup and set their bounds.

You created the heavens, the earth, and the waters, and they are good.

 

Smiling upon the earth,

         You called forth vegetation, diverse plants of every color, shape and kind,

         giving delight to the eye, shade from the sun and nourishment for our bodies.

You created flora and forests and food to eat, and they are good.

 

Rejoicing with Your creation,

You called forth living creatures –

         birds to give company to your skies; animals, wild and friend; fish, great and small;

         humankind after your own image, to be free and loving.

You fashioned community, sustained by Your hand.

You created living creatures and they are good.

 

Revealing Your power, wedded to Your grace,

         You called forth mountain, plain and valley,

         storms, welcome rains and drought.

Each celebrate Your faithfulness and steadfast love.

You created mystery that we might know You are God.

 

Generous and loving God, Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth and all that is,

         here in our Western North Carolina home, we praise You 

         for You are Light, Word, Love, Life – Mystery Revealed,

Everything You have made is very good!

 

 

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Lord God, the world is full of Your glory, but now Your glory is veiled by our negligence.  Forgive us, Lord, for we have consistently valued profit more than the world that You created and sustain for all Your creatures.  We have damaged

Your creation by our thoughtless deeds and our greed.  We have stopped our ears to the groans of the living world that is sore afflicted by our selfishness.  Forgive us for our lack of concern and stir us now to protect Your suffering world, both human and natural.  Help us to do all in our power to repair the damage we have done so that our world might be saved for this and future generations.  For the sake of Your dear Son, who died to redeem all of creation.  Amen.

 

(adapted from “A Prayer Guide for the Care of Creation,” January 2007, http://christian-ecology.org.uk/p0701.htm) 

 

A Prayer for the Fulfillment of the Promise of God 

 

God of grace and power, the cries of our sisters and our brothers call to us, and we know that we are called to listen.  Give us ears to hear, that we might lend our own voice to the struggle for justice.  The cries of the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized echo through the mountains and valleys, the forests and lumber mills, the fields and hollows of Western North Carolina.  Across this land, too many of us are suffering.  Too many backs break from hard labor, and too many have little to eat.  We long for your saving grace.  Living God, who hears our cries, tell us what long ago, on a different mountain, you told Your servant Moses, that “I have heard the cry of my people.  I will deliver them out of the hands of oppression.  I will give them a rich and broad land.”  Bless us, O God, with Your saving grace, and may each of us share in Your  promise.  Amen.

 

(by B. J. Morton, with material adapted from “This Land Is Home To Me,” by the Appalachian Catholic Bishops,  www.osjspm.org/majordoc_this_is_home_to_me.aspx)

 

God of Heaven and Earth

 

God of heaven and earth, we thank You for the incredible diversity of the world You have created. Open our eyes that we may see and appreciate Your handiwork all around us. Teach us to value our world and all that is in it as precious in Your sight.  We pray for all in authority, for heads of governments, and for leaders in industry and institutions everywhere, that they may use their power to help assure good stewardship of our God-given resources.  Be with all those working to protect the forests, oceans, waterways and the air we breathe so that all our natural resources might be kept safe for our children.  And give each of us the vision and heart ourselves to be good stewards of all that You have entrusted to our care.  Help us to share with gladness all that You have given us so that none may suffer undue want or need.  This we pray in

the name of Your Son, Jesus, who died to redeem Your creation.  Amen.

 

 

 

Prayer of the Farmworkers’ Struggle

 

Show me the suffering of the most miserable; so I will know my people's plight. 

Free me to pray for others; for you are present in every person. 

Help me take responsibility for my own life; so that I can be free at last. 

Grant me courage to serve others; for in service there is true life. 

Give me honesty and patience; so that the Spirit will be alive among us. 

Let the Spirit flourish and grow; so that we will never tire of the struggle. 

Let us remember those who have died for justice; for they have given us life. 

Help us love even those who hate us; so we can change the world. 

Amen. 

 

(from “Prayer of the Farmworkers’ Struggle,” www.colapublib.org/chavez/prayer.htm)