WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CREATION: THE POOR AND THE EARTH ARE CRYING OUT
A wonderful event was held in Cape Town to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for creation as we start the Season of Creation
The service started with words from the Laudato Si
“The poor and the Earth are crying out. Help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future” read by Rev Natalie- Simons Arendse
Ncumisa Magadla (Green Anglicans) led us in a Celtic Prayer : “This we know, the Earth does not belong to us – this we know, the Earth is the Lord’s and so are all that dwell therein”
Young People from the interfaith organisation GOAL led us in prayers challenging us to change our lifestyle and attitudes to the Planet.
Archbishop Brislin from the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town reminded us of the challenges we face, with fake news and the difficulties of people changing their life-style.
Then representatives of the different faiths from the Cape Town Interfaith Inititiative led in beautiful prayers reflecting the need to be good stewards of the Earth. Khoisan Chief Arries, from the First Nation shared this prayer
“our Father, Father of our Ancestors, let is rain upon us. Let our flocks live, let us also live. Please we are very weak from thirst and hunger. let us eat fruits of the field and share in the riches of our soil”
We joined together in the words of the Laudato Si led by Father Bernard
“Teach us to discover the worth of each living 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”
Rev Rachel Mash of Green Anglicans led us in a time of commitment to being Guardians of the Earth and of the water as we placed stones onto a cairn. What we do in the next five years may change the course of human history. She quoted from the Hopi nation as she said
“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell them that this is the Hour. At this time of history we are to take nothing personally , least of all ourselves. For the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. We are the people we have been waiting for”
Francesca de Gasparis from SAFCEI led us in a moving prayer as we faced the East – from where comes the dawn, the day, hope and strength. We faced the West – where the sun sets, confessing the destruction we have caused to all forms of life. We turned to the North – from where the oppressive forces came that enslaved and dominated the land – we will work to restore justice and right relationships . Then we turned to the South – land of hope and dance , the song of the poets, the cry of the suffering, the voice of the prophets. And finally we turned to each other – knowing that we are filled with love and solidarity to journey together.
Bishop Geoff Davies, our Green bishop led us in a final prayer to know Gods peace and presence in all of creation.
Finally the service ended with a planting and blessing of a tree by Canon Desmond Lambrechts.
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#seasonofcreation