Transcript Creation Care - reflection and intercession

This PowerPoint is designed to be used in full or in part – either as a reflective
prayer resource on the topic of creation care or as a tool to help people intercede
about climate change and environmental destruction. Feel free to move the slides
around or just use one or more sections – for example:
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use slides 2-7 for a meditative, praise-filled reflection on God’s creation
use slides 2-12 for a prayerful reflection on creation care and God’s plan for our
role in caring for creation with him
delete slide 20, and use the full PowerPoint to take people on a journey from
praise at God’s creation and his plans for us to the reality of today’s
environmental crisis and the need for confession, forgiveness and action
use the full PowerPoint, with current information and stories added to slide 20,
for a fully reflective and outward-focused intercessional journey
use slides 13-21 (with or without slides 18-19, as you feel appropriate) for
leading intercessions on climate change, environmental destruction and caring
for our global neighbours
or any other option that works best for you!
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1)
The following five slides declare
God’s sovereignty over creation...
As you read each one and reflect on
the image, praise God for the glory,
majesty and diversity of his creation.
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
How many are your
works, O LORD!
In wisdom you
made them all;
the earth is full of
your creatures.
Psalm 104:24
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Job 10:12
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth.
Psalm 104:14
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
Psalm 65:9
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
God has called us to be stewards,
caring for creation with him.
As you read the following passages,
reflect on what you think God meant
when he told Adam and Eve to
“rule” over creation whilst also
taking care of it. How does Jesus’
teaching on leadership shed further
light on this?
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Then God said, "Let us make man in
our image, in our likeness, and let
them rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air, over the
livestock, over all the earth, and
over all the creatures that move
along the ground."
Genesis 1:26
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
The Lord God took the man (Adam)
and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it
Genesis 2:15
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Jesus said “For even the Son of
Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45
God has a plan to redeeem the
whole of creation...
Jesus said to them “Go into all the world and
preach the good news to all creation”.
(Mark 16:15)
Ask God to show you what this means.
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Today, we are seeing the fastest rates of humaninduced climate change, environmental
degradation and species extinction ever known...
It seems we have seen God’s gift of creation care as a free pass to
serve ourselves... whatever the consequences
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
It’s not just the earth that is
suffering as a result of our actions...
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Many of the world’s poorest communities are
already suffering the effects of climate change
and environmental degradation through:
• increasingly unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather
• higher risk of infectious disease, especially malaria
• lower crop yields
• soil erosion
• land loss from sea-level rise
• flooding
• desertification
• famine
• reduced water supply
• and much more...
This is a situation of
INJUSTICE too...
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
As Christians, our mandate to care for our
neighbours around the world is clear...
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie
the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed
free and break every yoke? Is it not to share
your food with the hungry and to provide
the poor wanderer with shelter— when you
see the naked, to clothe them, and not to
turn away from your own flesh and blood?
(Isaiah 58: 6-7)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure
and faultless is this: to look after orphans
and widows in their distress and to keep
oneself from being polluted by the world.
(James 1:27)
But let justice roll on
like a river,
righteousness like a
never-failing stream!
(Amos 5:24)
“Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all
your mind and with all your
strength.’ The second is this:
‘Love your neighbour as
yourself.’ There is no
commandment greater than
these.” (Mark 12: 30-31)
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Ask God for forgiveness where you
have treated his creation and people
carelessly. And ask him to show you
how he wants you to love your
neighbours, and his creation, better.
You might like to use the prayers of confession
and absolution on the following slides...
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Prayer of confession
Almighty God — creator, shaper and sustainer of all life, and
loving Father.
We confess that we have not loved you with our whole hearts;
We have been careless with the creation you so lovingly crafted,
and deaf to its song of praise.
We have taken to satisfy our selfish desires, rather than our need
and been indifferent to the consequences as your world’s song
of praise has been silenced.
Because of our greed and carelessness, the world is hurting, and
many of your most vulnerable children are suffering as a
result.
Please forgive our indifference.
Amen.
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
Prayer of absolution
Almighty God — creator, shaper and sustainer of all life, and
loving Father,
Thank you for the forgiveness won for us by your son – the
redeemer of all creation.
We receive your grace to us, and your love for us as we are.
Change us now into what you would have us be –
Move us to love and care for your world,
And make us ready to work for the good of all creation
Through the love and power of your son, our saviour,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
You might like to add in some current
information and/or specific stories here
about poor communities around the world
who are suffering from the effects of
climate change and environmental
destruction to help people intercede.
(Delete this slide if not)
Organisations such as Christian Aid and Tearfund can help you
source this information:
www.christianaid.org.uk
www.tearfund.org
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet
What next? Pray for God to show you
what you can do in response..
You might like to think about:
• campaigning on climate change and justice issues
• giving to charities supporting poor communities
suffering from the effects of climate change
• making changes to your own lifestyle to reduce
your impact on creation and people.
Find out more at www.thesanctuarycentre.org/takeaction
© 2011 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet