Prayers of the People, Lent 1B

Covenant-Maker,

Your people are scattered across the earth
in ones and also in twos,
in multiple numbers and genders
and a variety of hues,
and many have survived floods
of epic proportions:
floods of nature's making
and of economic disaster,
floods that left us trembling ... shaking ...
and floods that sent us running after
everything that is lost,
but many others are drowning.

Your creatures are crawling
and flying
and walking
and crying
longing to be safe
from those who do not understand
the responsibility of
dominion,
so extinction becomes
ever more real
as stewardship of choices
loses its appeal,
and the carelessness of humankind
leaves all God's creatures in a bind.

All that you created and called, "good":
all manner of galaxies, stars,
vegetation and food
are in your loving care,
but pollution threatens all of it --
water ... soil ... air,
and human decision contributes to
their destruction.

Word of God, speak creation into being again
each new morning.
Spirit, hover over the waters
and breathe new life into every living being
according to your covenant
that all your created order will live
abundantly
in the gracious promise found
in the newness of your everlasting love.

Amen.