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Prayers for the oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico

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Pastoral Resources

The Bishop’s Notes – June 4, 2010

The Presiding Bishop: A Lesson from the Gulf Oil Spill

Prayer Resource from the Eco-Justice office of the National Council of Churches

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A Prayer for the Gulf of Mexico

Written by the Rev. Canon Beverly Gibson, Sub-Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile

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We pray today for the preservation of our natural environment, especially the Gulf of Mexico and the lands and waters it touches:

Guide those who labor to contain the oil that endangers the creatures of sea and land; Strengthen those who work to protect them; Have mercy on those whose livelihoods will suffer; Forgive us for our carelessness in using the resources of nature, and give us wisdom and reverence so

to manage them in the future, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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A litany for the Gulf of Mexico in a time of crisis

By the Rev. Albert S. Kennington, Priest Associate, St. Paul’s, Daphne, AL

Bulletin Insert

The Officiant and People say responsively

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams,

O whales and all that move in the waters.

All birds of the air, glorify the Lord,

praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous,

praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord,

praise him and highly exalt him forever.

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;

the God of glory thunders; the LORD is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice;

the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.

O Lord, how manifold are your works!

in wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea

with its living things too many to number,

creatures both small and great,

There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan,

which you have made for the sport of it.

You give it to them; they gather it;

you open you hand, and they are filled with good things.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.

For the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, that they may be kept pure

as you created them.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who work on the waters that they be safe from harm; for

all who have been injured, for all who have died, and for all who

mourn.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who support their livelihood and the care of their families

and communities from the harvest of the waters,

Lord, have mercy.

For all who live along these waters and for their livelihood,

provide places of rest and recreation for others,

Lord, have mercy.

For all who explore the depths of the earth, even under the sea,

for the resources of your creation for the common good,

Lord, have mercy.

For all creatures of your making and for the wonderful mysteries

of natural habitats you have willed for them, that they be

protected from all dangers,

Lord, have mercy.

For all in authority over us, in the government of our nation, our

states, and communities, that they may serve your will for the

common good, and no other,

Lord, have mercy.

For all who work to preserve us from the dangers of this present

calamity, that they may be blessed with success and kept safe

from all harm,

Lord, have mercy.

For our deliverance from fear, anxiety, and anger,

Lord, have mercy.

For your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven,

Lord, hear our prayer.

Mercifully hear us, O Lord our God.

Let our cry come to you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

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As the catastrophic oil accident in the Gulf continues, O God, for the wonders of technology, we give you thanks. For the limits of technology we pray for awareness. For the arrogance of technology, when it harms your Creation, we pray for humility. For the victims of this technology, we pray for forgiveness. For the recklessness which prevents careful preparation for accident, we pray with repentance and for enlightenment. And for our capacity to learn from this huge mistake and to minister compassionately as a society to those harmed by it, we give you thanks. Amen.

Written by The Rev. John Widdows, Episcopal Diocese of Maine

Added June 2, 2010

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A Camp Beckwith Litany in the summer of the Gulf oil spill, 2010

Written by the Rev. Albert Kennington, Priest Associate, St. Paul’s, Daphne & Dean of the First camp session of Camp Beckwith, 2010

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The Officiant and People say responsively

Glorify God, all works of the Lord

Praise the Lord, now and for ever.

In heavens beyond us, and this place by the bay,

Praise the Lord, now and for ever.

In peace, let us pray for the Spirit of the Lord to renew the earth and the seas and all of

God’s creation. The response to each petition is Lord, hear our prayer.

For the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and all they touch, including Mobile Bay and

Weeks Bay, that they may be kept pure as you created them.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who work on the waters that they be safe from harm;

for all who have been injured, for all who have died, and for all who mourn.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who support their families and communities from the harvest of the waters,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who live along these waters and all who provide places of recreation for others,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who explore the earth, the sea, and under the sea for the resources of your

creation for the good of all,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For your forgiveness for our greed in using more than we need of the resources of your

making, and for all the ways our greed has hurt all of your creation,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all creatures of your making and for the natural habitats you have willed for them,

that they be protected from all dangers,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the governments of our nation, states, and communities, that they may serve your

will for the good of everyone,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who work to preserve us from the dangers of this present calamity, that they

may be blessed with safety and success,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For deliverance from fear, anxiety, and anger,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven,

Lord, hear our prayer.

To be said by all Our Father, who art in heaven . . ..

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Book of Common Prayer: Morning Prayer I p. 49

2 A Song of Praise Benedictus es, Domine

Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34

Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers; *