“The earth is Yours, and everything in it.”
Father in Heaven,
Creator of all that is.
May we reflect
Your love for Creation,
And care for the home we share
With all You have made.
May we reduce
Our wastefulness and carelessness.
May materials matter,
Every object as an intricate part
Of Your wonder-filled world.
May we reuse and repair
Items and instruments,
Tools and technology,
With intentionality and creativity.
May we reconsider
Filling our garages with gear,
Our closest with clothing,
And the endless array of items
We are marketed to amass in our homes.
May we replace
Over-consumption with creative simplicity,
Relentless greed with expansive generosity,
And our neglect, misuse, and exploitation of Your Creation
With wise stewardship and holy care.
May we remember—
We reduce and reuse,
Repair and recycle,
Restore and renew,
Because the neighborhood is Yours,
And everything in it.
Amen.
Other prayers to engage with place…
Father in Heaven,
Creator of all that is,
All that has been,
All that will ever be.
May we become more attuned to the history
And beautiful layers of life
That existed in this geography before us.
May we have a holy curiosity about this place:
Where our home was built,
Where our family sleeps,
And where we eat our daily meals.
Our Father,
We worship and praise You
As the Creator who worked for six days,
Using hours to build the world
In all of its beauty and brilliant majesty.
You rested and experienced joy in Your creation
Because it was good.
Creator and Good Shepherd,
You made the creatures we tend and the ground beneath their feet.
Before they belonged to our farms, businesses, or tables,
they belonged to You.
Lord God,
We pause in this moment to give You worthy recognition
For Your supreme sovereignty over all things.
We offer both acknowledgment and gratitude
For Your attentive, providential love and care
That You extend to us each day.
Dear God,
There are so many ordinary ways
To give and receive your love.
From the cuddles of our kids.
From the laughter of a dear friend.
From holding the hand of a spouse.
Teach me today
To give and receive
Your love as a neighbor.
Father in Heaven,
Bless these backpacks and those who carry them.
May they hold all that is helpful,
Nothing that is harmful,
And most of all hold hope for this school year.
May they carry lightly the load of learning:
The books to be read and homework to be completed,
The computers, clipboards, and calculators,
And the gift of an education.