Sunday Reflection: Prayer for creation with the four directions

September is the Season of Creation, and this morning the inner-city Community of Emmanuel prayed this prayer with the four directions: 

Let us turn our hearts to the East
The morning Sun begins each day there
Creator God, awaken us and help us to walk with renewed life

Let us turn our hearts to the South
Where the warm winds come from to give us comfort and joy
Creator God, soothe our aching souls

Let us turn our hearts to the West
From there the clouds bring us cleansing rain
Creator God, heal us and our relatives

Let us turn our hearts to the North
Winter comes from there and calls us to rest
Creator God, restore our strength

Let us turn our hearts to the Sky
From there Creator sees all around us
Creator God, help us to trust you to lead us

Let us turn our hearts to the Earth
From there quiet wisdom comes to teach us
Creator God, hear us as we pray to you

+Amen, let it be so.

(Adapted from the Season of Creation Ecumenical Prayer Service)

If you are looking for more creation-based prayer between now and the October 4th Feast Day of St. Francis, patron saint of ecology, here are some wonderful resources, and this link will lead you to a special prayer card.

If you're in my neighbourhood, we are having our annual Ecumenical Prayer for Creation in the style of Taizé on Sunday, September 17th, 7-8 p.m. at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 8424 95th Avenue. All are welcome!

After a summer like the one we are having, our earth needs more than prayer, but prayer is a good place to start because it changes us. 

Let Justice and Peace Flow.

Raise a song of gladness

The resurrection icon
we will pray with on Sunday

When Covid-19 shut the world down back in March of 2020, I wondered how long it would be until our Ecumenical Prayer evenings of scripture, silence, and the songs of Taize would start up again. 

Throughout these 30 months, I have missed the consolation of singing and praying with musicians and friends of different denominations, though I did my best to keep prayer going online. Of course, praying alone, even when you know other people are praying along in their own spaces, just isn't the same. Especially when it comes to raising our voices to God together.

It's been a long two-and-a-half years of being separated, but this Sunday, September 18th, we are gathering to pray in person with the group of musicians and the music I have missed so much. It's a resurrection, of sorts! And all are welcome to join us!

As health officials keep reminding us, the pandemic is not yet over, so it's recommended to wear a mask whenever we're indoors or in close proximity to people outside our immediate circles. I will be doing that as I don't think I've had the virus yet, and my life with diabetes means I still don't want to run the risk. It's up to each person to decide for themselves how they are most comfortable participating.

We will return to raising songs of gladness and prayer on this coming Sunday evening, September 20, from 7 to 8 pm at St. Thomas D'Aquin church, 8410 89 Street, which happens to be the place where we held our last prayer evening on March 8, 2020. I hope you can join us if you're in the area. We will be praying for the good of all of creation, as we are smack dab in the middle of the month of Creation.

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth... Jubilate Deo omnes terra!

Sunday Reflection: A special prayer in the month of creation

I know it's only Saturday, but instead of a Sunday reflection, I'll just post an advance invitation to join our ecumenical online Prayer for Creation that is happening at 7 pm MST on Sunday September 12th (tomorrow). We'll pray with scripture, silence, and the songs of Taize. 

I was really hoping we'd be able to pray together in person, but with covid numbers as high as they are in Alberta, it's probably better to refrain from gathering to protect those who are unvaccinated, not to mention those who are. I also like including those who aren't in the Edmonton area via livestream.

I'm grateful that Pope Francis wrote his letter to the whole world, Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home, and I'm still wishing that it would receive more attention and action, especially in light of the many climate disasters our world faces -- wildfires, hurricanes, floods and so many other coming concerns that we can't foresee. Our air is clear of smoke in Edmonton right now, but that doesn't mean we can't pray for creation and act to reduce our impact on its climate. I've written at length on the Pope's Encyclical in these moodlings, and am doing all that I can with regard to living simply, though there's always room for improvement!

But for now, let's pray together. All are welcome, and if you miss the prayer, it will remain online for the rest of the month of Creation, which ends on the Feast day of St. Francis, October 4th... It's a very meditative and peaceful prayer that could be good to wind down with after a busy day...

https://www.facebook.com/events/1247853455642809