"You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."- Matthew 5:14-16
Changing climate conditions have devastated rural agriculture forcing people to urban centres in Zimbabwe, where some turn to sex work to make a living. We pray for this situation here and other areas around the world, even situations similar in our own countries.
Jesus, where people can no longer live off the land because of how the climate is changing, we pray for your hand to act in protection and in provision. Bring these women reliable, community-created work to support themselves and their families with dignity.
What scientists call a megadrought in the American Midwest starting last year is projected to be the driest drought in 1200 years. We pray for the soil, and the anxieties about this coming growing season.
Where anxieties over this may be rising, we pray for a peace that passes understanding. Not sentimental peace, but your peace. You see your earth and you promised never to destroy it but redeem it. We pray for droughts to end and for replenishment to happen and where we need to change our ways so that these climate crises happen less, Lord move in us to do so now.
It was announced that the federal government will invoke the Emergencies Act which will enable more federal powers to remove occupations of infrastructure that disrupt the economy, trade and the rights of citizens to live peacefully if provincial powers are not enough. This is a process that is subject to parliamentary oversight and inquiry but it is unprecedented.
As Christ-followers who trust that God is always at work transforming our culture through the ways of Christ, we pray for the ramifications of this in our public sphere.
Jesus, in your mercy, take the temperature down and help us understand. Please shine light on the truth of these issues so we as citizens can make good decisions. Where misinformation is causing trouble and division, stop it in its tracks. Where temptation to use power abusively is at the door, stop it in its tracks. Guide the people we have elected to model for us how to get through hard things and speak with nuance and wisdom. That seems like asking for a miracle but we ask anyways.
We all need patience, wisdom and understanding. Lord, have mercy.
We're hiring! The CRC in Canada has expressed values of Justice and Reconciliation in a history of solidarity work and front-line ministry alongside Indigenous communities. Read the full description of this position and help us spread the word.
It is at this critical juncture that we call on the current Parliament and Minister of Justice David Lametti to make implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act a priority, keeping to the reporting requirements as laid out in the Act when it passed, and partnering with Indigenous leaders and communities in determining how implementation will happen.
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