Music: Through the Wood (Erik Fernhome)
Words- Jon Swales based on Psalm 55
Shelter from the Storm (Psalm 55)- A Prayer for the Climate and Ecological Emergency
Father of Creation,
God of Justice,
Hide not yourself from our pleas for mercy!
Attend to us,
Attend to your world and our home.
Answer us,
As we knock on the door of heaven.
The noise of unrestrained capitalism overwhelms,
The beat of the drum of consumerism
plunges us further into the abyss of climate breakdown.
Our addiction to fossil fuels is killing us,
We turned to them for blessing,
But now we are cursed.
Deliver us, O Lord.
Our hearts are heavy with anguish
Our souls are sad with sorrow.
The terrors of death overwhelm us.
If I had the wings of a dove,
I would fly away,
But there are no wings to carry,
And there is no place in which the beasts are not unleashing hell.
Attend to us,
Attend to your world and our home.
Answer us,
As we knock on the door of heaven.
In our fear,
Grant us courage.
In our distress,
Grant us Peace
Destroy O Lord,
Divide their tongues and undermine the financial structures and greed which plunges us further into the abyss of climate breakdown.
We call to God,
And the Lord will save us.
Evening, Morning & Noon,
We complain and moan,
He hears our voice.
He redeems our soul,
He is our shelter from the storm.
He bears out burdens
We will trust in you.
Your Son,
Endured the cross and was raised to life,
In you the darkest day is not the final day.
There is not a hurt you will not heal.
Until then,
We wait.
Amen