From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creations revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
- Indescribable, Chris Tomlin
The Northern Hemisphere has experienced it’s highest sustained heat wave. Temperatures in Italy are expected to peak around 120F (49C ) while In Phoenix, AZ temperatures are expected to be above 110F (43.3C) for the 19th straight day, shattering the city's previous record.
Impacts of the extreme heat are felt in so many places - from energy infrastructure, to economic impact from working conditions and in people’s bodies that cannot keep form overheating.
God, this heat feels oppressive when there is no relief. We pray for the most vulnerable elderly who may not have access to cooler spaces. We pray for those whose livelihoods depend on their being outside to have acceptable accommodations. And we pray for communities trying to access the energy needed for air-conditioning. We ask that you help us see policy ways through to bring our earth’s temperature to a livable balance.
Wildfires continue to rage in summer heat across the globe, including 900 active wildfires in Canada right now. Greece is experiencing wildfires in residential areas, leading to residents fleeing as their homes were set ablaze.
Father, many of us know the ravages of fire in our communities so we pray for those in Greece experiencing this firsthand. Even as these stories become common, we know the impacts are devasting for every individual, family and community. Bring community supports that help mitigate the physical damage as well as trauma to emotional and mental health. We pray your Spirit be known as a quenching rain while we pray for cooler temperatures and rain to douse the flames.
The Manitoba Government’s refusal to search a landfill for the remains of women who were the victims of an apprehended serial killer citing safety concerns, have led to blockades. While the landfill blockades have been cleared after a judge granted an injunction to remove the blockades days ago, the grief of the community seeking dignity, closure and justice is real.
We pray together:
Jesus, This is unimaginable heartache for some of us, but very real for others. We pray your Spirit of compassion would rule and that families of missing and murdered indigenous women would receive the consolation of knowing the truth and steps towards justice. Be present in their grief, comforting the mourning. Move the decision makers to see possibilities to resolution where they did not before.
The UK is set to pass a controversial Migration bill aimed at migrants and refugees crossing the English Channel. This bill would see migrants and refugees deported to safe third countries like Rwanda. The UN has said this bill is at odds with the country’s obligations in international law. The first planned Rwanda deportation flight was blocked a year ago in a last-minute ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
The passage of the bill coincided with the arrival on Tuesday of a barge to house migrants and refugees off the southern coast of England. The government has defended the use of barges, insisting they are a cheaper alternative to hotels.
We pray:
Lord Jesus, may your voice telling us to feed, house and clothe others be the voice your children hear the loudest. May we live like we truly believed that in providing human care to those in need we are providing for you. The solutions we come up with can seem so inhumane. Help us all to work for the better solutions that dignify your creation.
Can't get enough of helpful prayers? The Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee has provided a variety of written and recorded prayers that you can share with a friend or your congregation at this link.
Trees. Solar panels. Education. These are some of the ways people of faith are fighting the effects of climate change. That’s why we created a new documentary series, This is Hunting Park. Learn how people of faith in one Philadelphia neighborhood are coming together to make a difference. Watch the films and download the study guide here.
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