Today is the National Day of Prayer for Creation, and Christians around the nation are joining together to pray for the flourishing of creation’s health and beauty, the restoration of broken and degraded systems and relationships, and the wisdom to be wise stewards and hopeful cultivators of God’s earth. We are also lifting up thanksgiving and praise to God for his glory as evidenced in what he has made. Here is one prayer, from the Book of Common Prayer, that we can take a moment out of our work days or as part of our daily devotions to speak. May we be both humbled and encouraged as we join all creation in praise of our Creator God.
A Song of Creation
I Invocation
"Oh ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord."
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
II The Cosmic Order
O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord;
O ye waters that be above the firmament, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord;
O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord;
O ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye winds of God, bless ye the Lord;
O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord;
O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye dews and frosts, bless ye the Lord;
O ye frost and cold, bless ye the Lord;
O ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord;
O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord;
O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
III The Earth and its Creatures
"O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord." (image courtesy JLambus via flickr)
O let the earth bless the Lord;
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye green things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye wells, bless ye the Lord;
O ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord;
O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord;
O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
IV The People of God
O ye people of God, bless ye the Lord;
O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord;
O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord.
Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
praise him and magnify him for ever.
"Oh ye people of God, bless ye the Lord."
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This is beautiful, Kendra, thank you very much for posting it – Ben
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