Opening prayer:
God of all creation, you made a promise to your creation – to all life on earth, and to every creature on our planet – that you will love it and honour it for ever. Remember the promise you made to the earth. Bring us into the new life of your kingdom, into the new creation you have promised. Help us also to love and honour all that you have made, so that all life can flourish and grow.
Amen.
Beauty for brokenness StF 693
Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair,
Lord, in your suffering world this is our prayer.
Bread for the children, justice, joy, peace,
Sunrise to sunset, your kingdom increase!
Shelter for fragile lives, cures for their ills,
Work for the craftsman, trade for their skills;
Land for the dispossessed, rights for the weak,
Voices to plead the cause of those who can’t speak.
God of the poor, Friend of the weak, give us compassion we pray melt our cold hearts,
Let tears fall like rain; come, change our love
From a spark to a flame
Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear,
Cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share.
Peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green, Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain
Rest for the ravaged earth, oceans and streams plundered and poisoned – our future, our dreams. Lord, end our madness,
Carelessness, greed; Make us content with
The things that we need
Lighten our darkness, breathe on this flame
Until your justice burns brightly again; until the nations learn of your ways, seek your salvation and bring you their praise
Bible Readings
Revelation 21
A new heaven and a new earth
21 Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’
5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
6 He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.’
The new Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Genesis 1:24-31
26 Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’
29 Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.
Reflection:
The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet”. The theme aims to encourage people to take action to protect the planet. One of the goals is to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources globally by 2030. It is encouraging us to look at investing in innovative solutions to provide more sustainable materials to fossil fuels which would improve our air quality and reduce mortality rates due to air pollution.
In our worship today, we are reminded of the sacredness of our planet. Our reflections on Revelation 21 and Genesis 1:24-31 serve as a powerful reminder of our duty to steward God’s creation.
The Methodist Way of Life reminds us that the earth is a gift from God and as we flourish, we care for creation and as we are part of the earth too, lovingly woven from the same fabric. Some of the worshipping communities in NMC are being conscious in working out ways to care for Churches in way that does not damage the environment. The Eco Church programme equips churches in England and Wales to care for creation.
A question to ponder, how are you and I caring for creation? What is your biggest challenge in responding to the climate emergency?
In Genesis 1 v24-31 God commands the earth to produce living creatures, creates animals, declares humanity in his image, blesses them with dominion, provides food, and concludes the sixth day of creation by declaring everything “very good”
All around we can see the effect on the world. Climate change causes a wide array of environmental impacts, including rising global temperatures, sea-level rise, altered weather patterns, increased wildfires and droughts, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity.
Climate change can lead to despair and hopelessness and some people may have “eco-anxiety” questioning what we can do to help. Campaigners are now calling for a 60 percent reduction in plastic by 2040.
What’s our response as a Worshipping community and as an individual? We can individually take action by reusing our own bags when we shop, reusing items, conserving water and energy, and making conscious choices about your diet and transportation. We can recycle, donate and take stuff to the recycling centre.
About 15 years ago I received a shirt from a charity shop for a Christmas present from one of my sons. At first, I was slightly disappointed, however this has prompted me to shop in charity shops when I can.
This year, communities around the world will come together to celebrate Earth Day with a renewed focus on harnessing our collective power to make a positive impact. From local clean-ups to educational workshops, everyone is invited to participate and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future. We are called to action, to embody the theme of Earth Day 2025 – “Our Power, Our Planet.” Let’s agree to reflect, pray and act.
A prayer of confession
Lord, how the world needs your healing. We think of the blight of plastic polluting our rivers and oceans, or the distress of creatures on the verge of extinction, the scars of climate change and the sufferings inflicted by conflict. Forgive us if we unwittingly play any part in these things. Show us what we can do to help bring change in the world.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, mercifully hear us.
Lord, there are so many forms of pain and suffering. How we need your healing hand. Forgive us: when the pull of social media is so great that we stray into the wrong territory; for pain we inflict by choosing to follow our own paths and schemes; or when we think ourselves to be better than others or allow differences to separate us. Your healing hands are always open. Forgive us when we ignore them, whether through fear, ignorance or self-will. Lord, hear us.
Lord, mercifully hear us.
Prayer of intercession
Magnificent maker of the universe, we praise and thank you for your great gift to us in creation. We give thanks for the great and glorious earth, a home for us all, and we pray for all whose job is to ensure that the earth is safe; for ecologists, climate experts, energy scientists, and for ourselves and the little bit we can do.
We magnify your holy name.
Magnificent maker of the universe, we thank you for all that we learn by the observation of creation.
We pray for those working to understand the universe and its origins, for astronomers and astronauts and physicists; for theologians, especially those working in the field of theology and science. We pray for those who reject a dialogue with theology and embrace new atheisms.
We magnify your holy name.
Magnificent maker of the universe, we thank you for all that the earth offers us, and we pray for those who work close to the earth: farmers and gardeners, miners, oil drillers and engineers. Keep them safe in their dangerous pursuits and help us to treasure all that they provide for us.
We magnify your holy name.
Magnificent maker of the universe, fill our minds with wonder and our spirits with awe, that we may tread lightly on this earth that you have given us.
We magnify your holy name.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
Think of a world without any flowers StF 92
Think of a world without any flowers, think of a world without any trees, think of a sky without any sunshine, Think of the air without any breeze.
We thank You, Lord, for flowers and trees and sunshine; We thank You, Lord, and praise Your holy name.
Think of a world without any animals, think of a field without any herd, think of a stream without any fishes, think of a dawn without any bird. We thank You, Lord, for all your living creatures, we thank You, Lord and praise Your holy name.
Think of a world without any people, think of a street with no-one living there, think of a town without any houses, no-one to love and nobody to care.
We thank You, Lord for families and friendships, we thank you, Lord, and praise Your holy name.
A sending out prayer:
Lord Jesus, the earth is yours and you have commanded the winds and the sea; help us to leave behind our consumer demand for plastics and move towards behaviours that are environmentally healthy; help us to follow your lead in caring for the world you love.
Amen.
