Prayers In Appreciation of God's Gift of Creation To Us

 It’s summer, of course, here in British Columbia and everywhere I look there’s green trees and grass, flower to enjoy.  I got an app on my phone that will tell me what the flower is if I take a picture of it.  Now I can talk to my mom, who knows so many flowers, about what I saw and she can get to “see the flowers too” in her mind’s eye. 

The harmony and balance of nature is such an indicator of God’s care and thoughtfulness behind it all.  Today we want to think about creation, God our creator, and give thanks for all that God has made and given into our care.  There are some lovely prayers that I found in a variety of places that we’ll use today to draw our hearts close to God.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.       Genesis 1:1-4a

In the beginning before time, before people, before the world began, God was.

Here and now, among us, beside us, enlisting the people of earth for the purposes of heaven, God is.

In the future, when we have turned to dust and all we know has found its fulfilment, God will be.

Not denying the world but delighting in it, not understanding the world, but redeeming it, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God was, God is, God will be.

Creator God, you formed our universe from a shapeless void; You fashioned the planets and forged the stars; You established the seasons and determined life’s rightful order: Creator God, we worship you!

Word of Life, you spoke over your creation and made it live; You painted nature into beautiful colour; You stirred seas and rivers to song; You called forth creatures of every shape and size: Word of Life, we respond to you!

Spirit of Life, you gathered the dust of the earth and made a man and a woman; You breathed life into them, that they might know you; You filled your earth with tribes and nations; You entrusted your precious world to us your family: Spirit of Life, we receive you!

Almighty God, today we celebrate the good gift of your creation;

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, today we rejoice in the gift of relationship with you. Amen.

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Genesis 2:15, 1:28

O Lord, grant us the grace to grow deeper in our respect of and care for your Creation.O Lord, help us to recognize the sacredness of all of your creatures as signs of your wondrous love.

O Lord, help us turn from the selfish consumption of resources meant for all and to see the impact of our choices on the poor and vulnerable.  O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

O merciful Creator, your loving hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence, and give us grace to honor you with all that you have entrusted to us; that we, remembering the account we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

In bright light and dull darkness,

in the energy of each day and the rest that comes with night,

we remember the goodness of God

In the heavens high above our heads,

in waters that run deep around the world,

we remember the goodness of God

In solid land and flowing seas, in vivid flowers and fruit laden-trees,

we remember the goodness of God

In the rising and setting of the sun and the cycles of the seasons,

 in the patterns of the shining stars,

we remember the goodness of God

In oceans teeming with fish, in skies filled with birds,

we remember the goodness of God

In a world filled with animal life,

and in ourselves as human beings,

we remember the goodness of God,

And God looked and saw all that he had made,

and indeed it was very,  very good.

In rest and reflection, in wonder and worship

we remember the goodness of God. Amen

I hope you have a moment to get out and enjoy nature today and see some of the goodness of God that is given to us to enjoy in this season.  Let's have a great day remembering our generous God and enjoying His beauty in all we see around us.