Greetings,

I have been thinking a little about connections this week and how two things that seem totally unrelated can set your mind to pondering.  As a focus of NAIDOC week, Channel 10 news has been using traditional names for capital cities in their weather segments.   As I have looked at their weather maps this week, and thought what a great idea, I was reminded of the first verse of the Psalm for the week.  Psalm 24, attributed to David, begins “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it”. I was also struck by the thought that while the NAIDOC 2021 theme of Heal Country is about our nation, there is much country in this world that God has gifted us that needs to be healed so that the people, too, can be healed.

The reality is that our country, our world, and our neighbours are impacted unequally by climate change.  Those who are least responsible are often impacted first and worst.  When rainfall is less, crops don’t grow and it is harder to feed your family.  When sea-levels rise and the liveable land in your country shrinks you watch slowly watch your home and livelihood disappear.

Surely we must lament our treatment of this gift.  I invite you to join me in praying the following prayer which is adapted from the Tear Fund Prayer in the Park guide.

Lord God,

You made the world and declared it was ‘very good’.

 And yet, we have not treated the earth and our fellow humans with the care and respect they deserve.

We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness.  

Give us the courage to keep raising our voices about the climate emergency, which affects people living in poverty the worst. 

Give us the wisdom to learn from our First Peoples who have cared for this land from time beyond remembering.

And may your Spirit of peace be in the hearts of all people, so that conflicts end in peace, and relationships are restored.

Amen.

Blessings – Heather.