Today is Earth Day. Like never
before, our biosphere is in a precarious place. As human greed to devour its
resources increases exponentially, the cost of our privilege is measured out
against the ever increasing number of those at the bottom. In the meantime
"this fragile Earth, our island home" (Book of Common Prayer) suffers
from the depletion of its flora and fauna due to overconsumption and the contaminants
which are causing the climate to change in ways deleterious to ongoing
existence of most current life forms.
That includes us.
Let us celebrate Earth Day
with prayers and hymns. But let our gratitude for "this fragile Earth, our
island home" not end with mere words and feel good images and songs. Let
us resolve to rise to the challenge our own attitudes and behaviors have
created for us and for all life as we currently know it. Let our response to
these challenges, in the words of the Baptismal Covenant of the Episcopal Book
of Common Prayer, be: "I will with God's help."
I offer for your consideration
some prayers and hymns for this commemoration of Earth Day 2017:
A Prayer for Earth Day 2017
Holy One, Creator of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise. From your very Being all
things came to exist: the vast expanse of interstellar
space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile Earth, our island
home.
By your will they were created and have their being.
From its primal elements came the human race, blessed with memory, reason, and skill. Holy One, you have entrusted us with your creation. But we have proven unreliable stewards. In our self-focus and shortsightedness, too often we turn against you and one another, despoiling your creation, betraying your trust.
From its primal elements came the human race, blessed with memory, reason, and skill. Holy One, you have entrusted us with your creation. But we have proven unreliable stewards. In our self-focus and shortsightedness, too often we turn against you and one another, despoiling your creation, betraying your trust.
Holy One, we pray you will have mercy upon us. For in the
selfishness that blinds us, we harm your good Creation and all within it
including ourselves. This day we pray that we may find the courage to see that
which we would not look upon, to become truly sorry for these our misdoings and
to humbly repent.
And because we cannot do so alone, we ask for an acute awareness
of your constant presence with us this day. Assist us with your grace to find
the gratitude, loving kindness and compassion that is due your good creation. Help
us to turn from our destructive ways and to learn to live as responsible
members of this fragile Earth, our island home.
All this we ask in the name of the One who is the source of all
that exists, the ground of our very Being and the destination of all souls.
Amen. Amin. Amina. Thathaastu. Tʼáá ákótʼée doo. So be it.
(adapted from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer; endings from
Judaic/Christian, Islamic, Swahili, Hindu, Navajo traditions)
11
Prayers for Earth Day
A
Hymn for Earth Day
A
beautiful rendition of the Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer. “Your will be
done on earth as in heaven…Give us today what we need….and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us…for the kingdom…is yours, now and
forever.”
A
Hymn for the Earth from those at the Bottom
Sung
by the little ones at the bottom of the developing world wondering what their
fates will be in a world whose privileged first world members seem intent on
destroying it.
A
Hymn for the Earth from those at the Top
Watch Christopher Tin conduct “Baba Yetu” – his Grammy
Award-winning theme song written for Civilization IV, a video game. Performed
by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Angel City Chorale, Prima Vocal
Ensemble, and Lucis at Cadogan Hall in London, July 19, 2016.
All this we ask in the name of the One who is the source of all
that exists, the ground of our very Being and the destination of all souls.
Amen. Amin. Amina. Thathaastu. Tʼáá
ákótʼée doo. So be it.
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Harry Scott Coverston
Orlando, Florida
frharry@cfl.rr.com
harry.coverston@knights.ucf.edu
If the unexamined life is not worth
living, surely an unexamined belief system, be it religious or political, is
not worth holding.
Most things worth considering do
not come in sound bites.
For what does G-d require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d? (Micah
6:8, Hebrew Scriptures)
© Harry Coverston 2017
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