Thank You For The World So Sweet...

 My calendar picture for this month

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "In everything, give thanks" - and it is indeed a good principle. People who practise gratitude tend to be happier, and more positive about things - and live life more abundantly [see John 10:10]

When I was a child, a popular grace-before-meals was 

Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat

Thank you for the birds that sing, thank you God for everything

The world is not as sweet as it was 60 years ago - we have done so much damage to our planet. This weekend, Extinction Rebellion is organising The Big One - a peaceful protest in London, about climate change and pollution and unwillingness of governments and multinationals to change their policies. ER declared in January that all its protests now on will be safe and not cause harm, and they wish to work together with other groups concerned with climate action. To that end, A Rocha, Baptist World Mission, the Quakers, Christian Climate Action and others are heavily involved in this weekend's demonstrations. This thing is a collaborative effort. As a Christian, I found this article very challenging. The 'Big One' demo began with an ecumenical act of worship on Friday morning. This is part of the opening prayer.

Creator God, we bow before you and acknowledge you as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We marvel as we look into the heavens and consider the work of your fingers, the moon and stars. And we are in awe that You brought into being humanity with responsibility as stewards over creation. Lord we humbly seek your forgiveness but also your wisdom and courage , … for we see that our actions and our behaviour is all too often anything but honouring you, we realise that our use of finite resources are having dire consequences for our neighbours … and for our future generations, as the earth continues to warm as a consequence of our actions. Lord have mercy on us....Help us Lord to be brave and responsive to that which is being revealed to us.

Loving Creator God, we pray for you to continue to raise up a generation of leaders in this and other nations with the courage to take responsibility for our rapidly changing climate, and the part we have played in it. We intercede for all our politicians and leaders - especially here in Westminster - cause them to act in the best interests of all nations today, …and in the future, in order to avoid further catastrophic changes….We pray and ask that oceans of justice may flow.

May there be a genuine outpouring of love that leads to righteous action as we seek to honour your calling to care for creation and to see your earth again flourish. We know that this can be so as you stir us from just thinking and singing, and ask you move increasing numbers into action. For you have shown us, what is good - that we should indeed act justly and to love mercy - and to walk humbly with your God.  We make these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour - the Light and Hope of the World.

Let us truly display gratitude for the beauty of creation, and the blessings of loving friends and family - but let us also live that out in the way we care for our world and for one another.