TRUSTING US TO NAME HIS CREATURES

Posted: 02.11.21 in Articles category

The prayer quoted below can be found in 'The Book of a Thousand Prayers' compiled by Angela Ashwin - the final entry in a section entitled 'Praise for Creation'. I like the fact that its author Tony Burnham picks up the point from Genesis 2 that we as humankind have been given a divine mandate to name all living creatures. The very act of naming should foster a sense of responsibility to care for them - part of our duty as stewards of God's creation. Praise God for trusting us to name his creatures.

 

Loving God we praise you

for giving to the world

fish, birds and animals

and trusting us to name them.

 

Whales that sing beneath the waves

jellyfish and crabs

sticklebacks and sharks

friendly dolphins and porpoise schools

rainbow trout and brilliant neon

halibut and lemon sole

carp and cod and coelacanth

Living God you made them

and these are their names

 

Thrushes singing

swallows skimming

herons fishing

Buzzards hovering

skuas diving

Puffins shuffling

robins chatting

Creating God you made them

and these are their names

 

Elephants and midges

gorillas and gerbils

badgers and hedgehogs

cows, pigs and sheep

kangaroos and kittens

lions and lemurs

crocodiles and monkeys

Enlivening God you made them 

and these are their names.

 

Loving God we pray now for the unity of the breathing world that we and all your creatures may live together in harmony and peace in the name of Jesus.

Amen