This year Earth Hour was celebrated with a difference. Due to #lockdown because of the corona virus, across South African and Mozambique people either joined as individuals or on zoom calls and said the Earth Vigil prayers.
There was a strong sense of being part of one planet , and our future depends on each other
EARTH HOUR VIGIL
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Prepare one central candle and small candles enough for each person |
Power down
All the lights in the building are turned off.
Reading Genesis 1:1-3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” (the central candle is lit) and there was light.
God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light “day,” and the darkness God called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Greeting
One Light is all around us. We often do not even realize it until it is gone and we are in darkness.
Tonight we will celebrate amidst darkness, guided by gentle light that does not lead to the global warming of the planet.
Light that will encourage us to reflect on who God calls us to be in this world.
Let us take some time to pass the light to each other. You may greet each other with a comment such as “for inspiration,” “for courage,” or “for openness.”
At this point, the leader passes light from the first candle to members of the congregation, who in turn pass light to their neighbours.
Music: (suggest Taize – within our darkest night you kindle a fire that never dies away)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8BmvxqJH0g
Prayers Litany from Melanesia
https://www.greenanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/prayer.pdf
A time of silence
Prayer for our Earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace. (Pope Francis, Laudato Si)
One God of the powerless, we choose to be without power.
All May this choice permeate our lives.
One God of gentleness, we choose to walk gently on this earth.
All May this choice permeate our lives.
One God of all creation, we choose to be in solidarity with all creatures on our planet.
All May this choice permeate our lives.
One May this simple gesture of turning out our lights be a moment of inspiration for ourselves, for our community, and for our world.
May we leave this place empowered to live into this hour. May we continue to live simply and walk gently on this earth. And now let us go and live the message
we dare to proclaim.
All Amen.
The lights are turned on
Final song – Shine Jesus Shine
Adapted from Earth Hour Liturgy from Diocese of Niagara