A Prayer Of Sorrow, Healing,
and Gratitude

I

(All say together)
We have forgotten who we are.

We have forgotten who we are
We have alienated ourselves from
the unfolding of the cosmos
We have become estranged from
the movements of the earth
We have turned our backs on the cycles of life

We have forgotten who we are.

We have sought only our own
security
We have exploited simply for our
own ends
We have distorted our knowledge
We have abused our power

We have forgotten who we are.

Now the land is barren
And the waters are poisoned
And the air is polluted

We have forgotten who we are.

Now the forests are dying
And the creatures are disappearing
And humans are despairing

We have forgotten who we are.

We ask forgiveness
We ask for the gift of remembering
We ask for the strength to change

We have forgotten who we are.

(Silence)

II

We join with the earth and with
each other.

To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air

We join with the earth and with
each other.

To renew the forests
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures

We join with the earth and with
each other.

To celebrate the seas
To rejoice in the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars

We join with the earth and with
each other.

To recall our destiny
To renew our spirits
To reinvigorate our bodies

We join with the earth and with
each other.

To recreate the human community
To promote justice and peace
To remember our children

We join with the earth and with
each other.

We join together as many and
diverse expressions
of one loving mystery: for the
healing of the earth
and the renewal of all life.

(Silence)

 

III

One of the articles in Earth & Spirit (IC#24)
Late Winter 1990, Page 62
Copyright (c)1990, 1997 by Context Institute | To order this issue ...

(With joy!)
We rejoice in all life!

We live in all things
All things live in us

We rejoice in all life!

We live by the sun
We move with the stars

We rejoice in all life!

We eat from the earth
We drink from the rain
We breathe the air

We rejoice in all life!

We share with the creatures
We have strength through their
gifts

We rejoice in all life!

We depend on the forests
We have knowledge through their
secrets

We rejoice in all life!

We have the privilege of seeing and
understanding
We have the responsibility of caring
We have the joy of celebrating

We rejoice in all life!

We are full of the grace of creation
We are graceful
We are grateful

We rejoice in all life!

Adapted from the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Sabbath/Earth Rest Day packet of prayers, stories, meditations, and other ideas for celebrating the Environmental Sabbath. To receive the packet, write UNEP, 2 U.N. Plaza, New York, NY 10017 .

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