With thanks to Dr Byron Smith, Common Grace is offering this prayer for use or adaptation in your devotions and church worship.
Creator of life, this beautiful land cries out.
For the disfigured splendour of charred forests, blackened soil, ashen skies, we grieve.
For the hundreds of millions of creatures that perished in smoke and flame, for the millions more who emerge after the inferno to starvation or predation, for the twisted, frayed and torn strands of ecosystems that may never recover, we mourn.
For smoke-filled lungs, dread-filled hours, anxiety-filled evacuations,
for ruined livelihoods, incinerated sacred sites, smouldering homes,
for bereaved families, inflicted trauma, gutted dreams, we weep.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Jesus our brother, all generosity echoes your own.
For the dangerous labour of firefighters, for the kindness of strangers, for neighbourly bonds reforged in calamity, we offer thanks.
For sandwiches made, shelter provided, funds donated, we are grateful.
For accurate reporting, insightful forecasts, skilful logistics, we acknowledge our debt.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit of truth, your justice flows like water onto parched soil.
For too long, our notions of prosperity have been dominated by theft, destruction and fire: stolen land, poisoned rivers, dirty fuels. May we rediscover true wealth in mutual trust and care, in treasured stories and places, in clean water and air.
May justice fall like rain, pouring like grace on the tongues of the poor, settling like ash in the mouths of those who profit from lies.
Let ancient wisdom be respected, careful science heeded, the worship of money rejected.
May we truthfully embrace our full history, honestly acknowledge our present crises, humbly nurture a shared future.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Written by Dr Byron Smith
What prayers have you drawn on during this time? Please post or share in the Facebook comments prayers responding to the bushfires that have refreshed your faith, deepened your love, and stirred your hope. Please include a source and attribution if you can.
Gomeroi woman Bianca Manning reflects on the many stories the climate scarf tells, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the need for these stories and voices to inform and lead our calls for climate justice.
Sue Pyke shares the story of three generations working together to knit their climate stripe scarf - a journey of patience, persistence and purpose that weaves together their concern for the future and hopes for climate action.
Mick Pope reflects on the data behind the Knit for Climate Action scarves, climate change, and the message for humanity.
Ed Hawkins vivid climate stripe graph and Jess Morthorpe's deep care for God's beautiful creation helped spark Common Grace's creative, gracious and hopeful Knit for Climate Action.
