Epiphany 2

Bible Readings

First reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

Psalm: Psalm 40:1-11

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Gospel: John 1:29-42

 

John Testifies About Jesus

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared,
“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!.”

John 1:29

Lord, we pray for:

• All affected by the bush fires, the families of those killed, those who lost their homes, and those traumatised by the horrific experience of being in a fire’s path. Please comfort and strengthen all who are struggling emotionally and physically. Give them your peace as they continue to live their lives, and help them to rise above the terrible effects of these fires. Please also strengthen and guide firefighters who endure so much in protecting people & property.
• Wisdom for our Government and for all involved in responding to the bush fires in practical ways and for future planning

Thank you Lord for:

• Improvement in the weather and bush fire crisis
• all the people from Australia and overseas who are giving hands on assistance and donations of many kinds to give support in our bush fire crisis!

 

Prayer for Australia's Bushfires 

Beauty

Creator of life, this beautiful land cries out.

For the disfigured splendour of charred forests, blackened soil, ashen skies, we grieve.

For the hundreds of millions of creatures that perished in smoke and flame,

for the millions more who emerge after the inferno to starvation or predation,

for the twisted, frayed and torn strands of ecosystems that may never recover, we mourn.

For smoke-filled lungs, dread-filled hours, anxiety-filled evacuations,

for ruined livelihoods, incinerated sacred sites, smouldering homes,

for bereaved families, inflicted trauma, gutted dreams, we weep.                                                                                  Lord have mercy.

Generosity

Jesus our brother, all generosity echoes your own.

For the dangerous labour of firefighters, for the kindness of strangers, for neighbourly bonds reforged in calamity, we offer thanks.

For sandwiches made, shelter provided, funds donated, we are grateful.

For accurate reporting, insightful forecasts, skilful logistics, we acknowledge our debt.                                                Christ have mercy.

Justice

Spirit of truth, your justice flows like water onto parched soil.

For too long, our notions of prosperity have been dominated by theft, destruction and fire: stolen land, poisoned rivers, dirty fuels. May we rediscover true wealth in mutual trust and care, in treasured stories and places, in clean water and air.

May justice fall like rain, pouring like grace on the tongues of the poor, settling like ash in the mouths of those who profit from lies.

Let ancient wisdom be respected, careful science heeded, the worship of money rejected.

May we truthfully embrace our full history, honestly acknowledge our present crises, humbly nurture a shared future.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

by Dr Byron Smith for Common Grace www.commongrace.org.au/prayer_for_bushfires