Creator God we praise you for the changing of the seasons, for those areas of the Northern hemisphere where harvest is in progress or already complete; for those areas of the Southern hemisphere where the seedtime approaches and happens. The glory of the world wraps around us and we revel in the warmth and sunshine.
And yet there is another story to be told: for many there is no harvest and seedtime is hazardous. For many the glory of the world is told in cold and storm.
Creator God, grant wisdom, grant courage for their living.
We hear of a 92-year-old-man from the Colombian city of Barranquilla having a lucky escape after being swept away in a flooded river. We hear of flooding in Mexicoís Baja California following the path of Hurricane Lorena. We hear that over a quarter of a million people have been caught in heavy rains in Assam , India. Sometimes we expect you to speak through the storm and in the storm – speak to these people with comfort and wisdom.
Living God, grant wisdom, grant courage for their living.
When we hear mellifluous birdsong it is easy to take notice and care. We pray for those who care for our wildlife, especially the ugly blobfish and the unprepossessing huge-nosed p rob oscis monkey. With the Mt. Diablo ìMorgan Fireî still burning in California, U.S.A., and the early start to summer bush fires in Australia we pray for those who care for wildlife hurt, burnt, bewildered by loss of habitat.
Merciful God, give to those who fight fires and to those who care for the whole environment, wisdom and courage for their living.
In the horrendous civil war in Syria we are flummoxed that the use of chemical weapons can cause outcry when other sadistic acts did not. We pause to give thanks that Syria ís president has accepted the Russian plan for international control.
God of justice and truth, grant wisdom, grant courage to those who will police it.
We learn of preposterous attacks which, even in military terms, do nothing except cause terror. We pray especially for the people of Maaloula, Syria where reportedly militants threatened villagers with death if they did not convert from Christianity to Islam. Claims and counterclaims abound here and it is hard to know what is true and what is propaganda but fear is everywhere.
God of grace, grant wisdom, grant courage for their living.
As the news breaks that the final 8000 people, displaced in the aftermath of the 2007 Kenyan elections, are being resettled from camps we pray for the huge number of displaced people world wide and for the countries who host them.
Compassionate God, grant wisdom, grant courage for their living together without incomers overwhelming their host country.
While the people of Japan unite to celebrate their hosting of the Olympic Games in 2020 so we hear of another earthquake off Fukushima , Japan . The glory of human endeavor and the glory of nature in its violence all wrapped up together. From Catalonia , Spain to Scotland there is talk and demand for self rule and separation.
God, Creator and Redeemer of us all, grant to all nations the wisdom to be provident in their living together and the courage to be clement in their talks.
We give thanks for the innumerable people who love and care for our world in a multitude of ways, researching, meeting other cultures, learning new languages. We pray for those trapped in deadly situations as they walk the world especially the trekkers from Australia and New Zealand attacked, their two local guides killed, in Papua New Guinea.
God our Rock and our Refuge, to their families, friends, and those who dealt with this attack grant wisdom, grant courage for their living.
Lord these are our prayers for the contradictions, the courage, the affirmations and the wisdom we meet everyday.
Merciful God, grant to each one of us also the knowledge and conviction to be your people on earth.
Amen.
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