The following prayers are courtesy of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church and also Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Creator God, author of life, source of all meaning, you made a universe of infinite complexity and beauty and entrusted us humans with the care of a tiny jewel called Earth. With the passing of time we came to believe we were owners, not fellow creature dwellers, of this bountiful planet and its extravagant web of life. We have used God’s creation without regard for the impact our rapacity had on the other creatures with whom we share our earthly home. We have acted with craven disregard for complex ecosystems we barely understand. Our self-deception has led us to assume we have the capacity to manage environments we exploit to sustain lifestyles that defy the intrinsic interdependence of all life. Now we face the consequences of our idolatry. We thought we were gods; but our recklessness has brought us to our knees, to ask for your mercy and forgiveness for the chaos we have brought about. We pray for the oceans and all the creatures that dwell in it. We pray for the forests and the abundance of life they nurture. We pray for the very air we breathe, now laden with the toxic gases we produce. We pray for our children whose earthly home we have so imperiled. Loving God, have mercy on us, grant us forgiveness and the strength to make amends.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: God, we come to you today with heavy and humbled hearts. We ask that your healing, comforting and strengthening presence be with all those affected by this unfolding tragedy:
For workers injured, missing and presumed dead from the explosion on the rig and for their families and friends,
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers
For people working tirelessly to contain the spill and protect fragile ecosystems and communities from its toxic impacts,
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers
For individuals and communities whose livelihoods depend upon the Gulf of Mexico,
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers
For your good Creation – from the smallest of sea creatures to the birds of the air – and all your magnificent handiwork at risk of exposure from our human errors,
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers
For wisdom to understand our dependence on You and strength that we might walk humbly in the path of justice and right-relationships with all Your Creation,
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers
