Prayer

Author of Creation Orderer of the night skies Sustainer of the sun and moon Bringer of life and Master of all living things High King of the heavens

We bow our heads in worship and praise

Your artist hand paints the poppy and the pansy traces the lace on butterfly wings colours the blossom on bramble and broom. Your care sustains the sparrow in her nest the mouse and the mole, the hurcheon* and the hare. You order our waters and seas, from the shoals of silver darlings to the seal, the dolphin and the great whale.

The very air around us teems and trembles with life.

We lift our eyes to the hills in gratitude and wonder

In our towns we tend our parks and gardens we dig and sow and plant, preen and prune and prepare. In our fields our farmers rejoice in new life, in the greening of crops, the setting of fruits and the promise of plenty in due time.

In our cities the morning sun wakes workers early lighting longer evenings and spectacular sunsets while children play and laugh and chatter in our streets.

We bless you for the beauty of being alive

In other places Broom and bramble are no more broken hearts and homes lie in dust There are no safe places for the sparrow to nest no one to work the fields The morning sun lights up destruction and evening sees only a scramble for safety while the laughter of children is only a memory.

We bow our heads in shame and pray for peace

Lord, bring the day to pass when all shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.

Amen.

*Scots word for hedgehog