Methodist Church marks 'World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation' with special prayer

A special prayer has been written by the President andVice-President of the Methodist Conference in support of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, taking place onThursday 1 September.

The prayer comes following a decision by the Methodist Conference, which met in London last month, whereit agreed that the Methodist Church would join with other ChristianChurches in observing the special day.

The Methodist Conference is the policy making body of theMethodist Church in Britain, made up of representative members fromacross the country and beyond.

The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is anecumenical initiative called for by Pope Francis marking the startof Creation Time, a tradition of the Orthodox Church started in1989, which sees churches hold special reflections on creation forfive weeks each year.

The Revd Dr Roger Walton and Rachel Lampard MBE, President andVice-President of the Methodist Conference, wrote:

Wondrous God,

We delight in the beauty, diversity and richness of yourcreation.

Every creature comes from your goodness and love, andall things speak of you.

Forgive us

• for our poor stewardship of this planet;

• for using its resources selfishly, indifferent to theconsequences of our actions;
• for the pain we have inflicted on other creatures andthe damage done to the fabric of the world;
• for our failure to seek the common good.

Awaken in us a desire to protect all life, to promoteenvironmental justice and to prepare for a betterfuture.

In the name of Jesus, the Lord of Life,

Amen.

Notes:

• For more information about the World Day of Prayer for the Careof Creation, taking place on 1 September 2016,  click here.
• For more information about the Methodist Conference,  click here.
• A selection of resources from Churches Together in Britain andIreland following the theme of Creation Time are available here.