The worship aid for this Sunday, May 24 Prayer Service appears below.
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Care of Earth Celebration Worship Aid.doc
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THE CANTICLE OF THE SUN Marty Haugen
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
And all creation is shouting for joy!
Come, dance in the forest, come, play in the field,
And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord!
Praise for the sun, the bringer of day,
He carries the light of the Lord in his rays;
The moon and the stars who light up the way unto your throne!
Praise for the wind that blows through the trees,
The seas’ mighty storms, the gentlest breeze;
They blow where they will
They blow where they please to please the Lord!
Praise for the rain that waters our fields,
And blesses our crops so all the earth yields;
From death unto life her mystery revealed
Springs forth in joy!
CALL TO PRAYER:
We have come a long way toward protecting our common home, but the journey ahead demands radical commitment to our Creator and each other. We are coming together for the next steps in our groundbreaking journey of hope.
Pope Francis: The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home. Here I want to recognize, encourage, and thank all those striving in countless ways to guarantee the protection of the home which we share. Particular appreciation is owed to those who tirelessly seek to resolve the tragic effects of environmental degradation on the lives of the world’s poorest. Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.
We have celebrated the Easter season of new life in ways new and original in our lives? Each week we have shared studied reflections. Let us return to the faith reflections on our Ecojustice issues.
WE REMEMBER:
Rachel Carlson Presente
Brian Swimme
Al Gore
Chief Seattle
Greta Thunberg
CLEAN AIR: The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters. LS 2
WE REMEMBER
Jacques Cousteau
Wangari Maathai
Leonard DiCaprio
Sharon Zadak
Edmund Muskie
CLEAN WATER: Fresh drinking water is an issue of primary importance, since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Sources of fresh water are necessary for health care, agriculture, and industry. Water supplies used to be relatively constant, but now in many places demand exceeds the sustainable supply, with serious consequences in the short and long term. Large cities dependent on significant supplies of water have experienced periods of shortage, and at moments these have not always been administered with sufficient oversight and impartiality. Water poverty especially affects Africa where large sectors of the population have no access to safe drinking water or experience droughts which impede agricultural production. Some countries have areas rich in water while others endure serious scarcity. LS 28
WE REMEMBER
National Geographic Society
Green Peace International
Audubon Society
Sierra Club
DEFORESTATION: the scientific community warns of the risks of deforestation, which to date comprises almost 17% of the whole Amazon forest. This threatens the survival of the entire ecosystem, endangering biodiversity and changing the cycle of water that is vital for the survival of the tropical forest. In addition, the Amazon plays a critical role as a buffer against climate change and provides invaluable and fundamental life support systems related to air, water, soils, forests, and biomass. At the same time, experts remind us that by using advanced science and technologies for an innovative bio-economy of standing forests and flowing rivers, it is possible to help save the rainforest, protect the ecosystems of the Amazon and its indigenous and traditional peoples and, at the same time, provide sustainable economic activities. Final Document of the Amazon Synod 11
We REMEMBER THE MARTYRS
Berta Cáceres from Honduras Presente
Francisco Mendes from Brazil
Ken Saro-Wiwa from Nigeria
Dorothy Stang from Brazil
Indigenous peoples of the Amazon
CLIMATE and MIGRATION: The phenomenon of migration must be addressed. There are three simultaneous migratory flows in the Amazon Region. First, the traditional mobility of indigenous groups in their territories, which are now separated by national and international borders. Secondly, the forced displacement of indigenous peoples, peasants and river dwellers from their territories, whose destination tends to be the poorest and worst areas of the cities. Thirdly, forced inter-regional migration and the phenomenon of refugees forced to leave their countries (Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, others) who need to cross the Amazon as a migratory corridor. Final Document of the Amazon Synod 12
WE REMEMBER PEOPLES DISPLACED BY
Droughts in Syria
Rising waters in Alaska and the Pacific Ocean
Nuclear waste in Chernobyl
Hurricanes in the United States
CLOSING PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN
THE CANTICLE OF THE SUN Marty Haugen
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
And all creation is shouting for joy!
Come, dance in the forest, come, play in the field,
And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord!
Praise for the earth who makes life to grow,
The creatures you made to let your life show;
The flowers and trees that help us to know
The heart of love.
Text: Marty Haugen, b.1950 Tune: Marty Haugen, b.1950 © 1980, GIA Publications, Inc.