Earth Day

Earth Day is every year on 22 April.
Incorporate prayers for the earth that day, or on a near Sunday.

Painting is 'Hands of God' by Tony Walter, Ōtautahi Christchurch

Your will be done
An Earth Day karakia by Silvia Purdie
 
Thank you, O God
For land below and sky above -
Ko Ranginui ki runga,
Ko Papakūānuku ki raro.
Hold us, loving God
in your almighty embrace.
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
 
Thank you, O God
for light and colour and space -
Te ao mārama.
Fill us fresh 
with your Holy Spirit.
Lift our eyes to see your beauty.
Inspire in us deep joy 
and wholehearted praise!
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
 
Thank you, O God
for living waters
of river, lake and ocean -
ngā awa, ngā roto, ngā moana.
We confess that we have polluted them
with chemicals and plastic -
our hearts ache.
Lord, protect the life of the sea.
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
 
Thank you, O God
for the intricate balance
of life on Earth,
of all things, ngā mea katoa -
seen and unseen.
We confess that Earth is reeling,
unable to recover
from the effects of human greed.
Murua ō mātou hara -
Forgive us our sins 
and renew us.
Dedicate us to care for life on Earth.
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
 
Thank you, Jesus,
that you came to Earth
to dwell with us in grace and truth -
i te aroha noa, i te pono.
Make your home in us, 
Haere mai, welcome.
We bind ourselves to you,
our help, our strength, our hope -
Tūturu whakamaua kia tina, tina, tāiki e!
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.

A Bilingual reading of Psalm 18
Adapted from Psalm 18 in English and Māori
 
I love you, O Lord, my strength. 
Ka aroha ahau ki a koe, e Ihowa, e tōku kaha.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer - 
tōku kāmaka, tōku pā, tōku kaiwhakaora.
The earth reeled and rocked -
ka ngāueue te whenua, ka rū!
In my distress I called upon the Lord. 
Ka karanga ahau ki a Ihowa.
He heard my voice - 
i whakarongo ia ki tōku reo.
He reached down from on high, he took me -
i tono karere mai ia i runga, ka mau ki ahau!
He drew me out of mighty waters -
tōia ake ahau e ia i roto i ngā wai maha.
He made my way safe -
i mea kia tino tika tōku ara.
​
This God’s way is perfect –
tēnā ko te Atua, tika tonu tōna ara. 
For who is God except the Lord?
Ko wai oti te Atua, ki te kahore a Ihowa? 
Who is a rock besides our God?
Ko wai hoki he kāmaka, ki te kahore to tātou Atua?
I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing praises to your name.
Mo konei ka whakawhetai ahau ki a koe, 
ka himene ki tou ingoa.
The Lord lives!
E ora ana a Ihowa!

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The Moana Prayer for the Pacific Ocean
A spectacular prayer, together with video, by Archbishop Emeritus Winston Halapua

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Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor
One of many excellent prayer resources on the Laudate Si' Action Platform

Lord, when we listen with your ears we hear: the bush grown more silent,
the birdsong less vibrant,
the stream’s sluggish ripple.
Have mercy and open our ears.

Lord, when we look with your eyes we see:
the soil depleted,
the sky smudged,
the oceans rubbished and the great currents slowed. Have mercy and help us to see.

Lord, when we look with your eyes we see: the workers who struggle to get by,
the women subjected to violence,
the people who are excluded.
Have mercy and help us to see.

Lord, when we listen with your ears we hear: the sound of hungry children,
the distress of the mentally ill,
the silent pain of homeless women and men.
Have mercy and open our ears.

Send your Spirit upon us Lord
to renew our sight, to restore our hearing,
and to reclaim your reign of justice for all people
​and peace for creation.
​AMEN

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Earth Day resources from around the world:
Creation Justice Ministries

The Fierce Urgency of Now
Earth Day resource 2020
Next Generation Rising
Earth Day resource 2019
Sense of Place
Earth Day resource 2018
Environmental Justice with Indigenous Peoples
Earth Day resource 2017
Care for God's Creatures
Earth Day resource 2016
Water, holy water
Earth Day resource 2014
Celebrating and Caring for God’s Creation
Earth Day resource 2009

From the Creation Justice resource, 2022: Weathering the Storm

​Prayer of Absolution
Creator, forgive us for our sins against you and your Creation.
In your name, may we turn from our sins and work towards a new creation, one in which all creatures are freed from the bondage of greed and accumulation and are able to flourish into their creatureliness.
May this church be a site of redemption, resilience, and hospitality; an extension of your love to all who are affected by the climate crisis.
In this land, this structure, this community, this worship, may we love you more fully by seeking justice for our neighbors.
Amen.

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Prayers from the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

A prayer for our earth
All powerful God,
you are present in the 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 your 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.

A Prayer for Our Earth was published in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. It is for all who believe in God who is the all-powerful Creator.

Open our eyes, Lord
God of all,
you made the earth and saw that it was good,
but like robbers we have stripped it of its treasure. Open our eyes, Lord.

Now the earth cries out
and your people hunger and thirst. 
Open our eyes, Lord.

Open our eyes to see the pain of your creation and move us with compassion for your world. 
Open our eyes, Lord.

Lead us to act as neighbours,
who do not pass by on the other side. 
Open our eyes, Lord.

So that together we may care for all that you have made and with all creation sing your praise.
Open our eyes, Lord.

by Catherine Gorman/CAFOD