The 'Big One' Prayer

Christian March leaders on Westminster Bridge

The 'Big One' began on Friday - a four-day act of public witness outside Parliament on 21-24 April, appealing for meaningful action in response to the climate and ecological crisis. Christian participants began the day with an ecumenical service at St John's Church Waterloo, followed by a 2,000 strong march to the Houses of Parliament led by several bishops and other church leaders (report on ICN soon. ) This is was the opening prayer:

Creator God, we bow before you and acknowledge you as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Your glory and majesty is seen all around us.... the earth is the Lord's , and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. for you founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

We marvel as we look into the heavens and consider the work of your fingers, the moon and stars.

And we are in awe that You brought into being humanity made a little lower than the angels , but given responsibility as stewards over the works of your hand as the psalmist explained centuries ago you gave to us the privilege and honour of looking out for the flocks and herds, the animals of the wild, the birds ion the sky and the fish in the sea...

Lord we humbly seek your forgiveness but also your your wisdom and courage , for when we look into the heavens and we look around us in the beautiful planet we see that our actions and our behaviour is all too often anything but honouring you, for in this generation we realise that our use of finite resources are having dire consequences for our neighbours around the world, and for our children's children and the future generations as the earth continues to warm as a consequence of our actions. Lord have mercy on us....

Help us Lord to be brave and responsive to that which is being revealed to us.

Loving Creator God, we pray for you to continue to raise up a generation of leaders in this and other nations with the courage to take responsibility for our rapidly changing climate, and the part we have played in it. We intercede for all our politicians and leaders - especially here in Westminster - cause them to act in the best interests of all nations today, and all peoples in the future, in order to avoid further catastrophic changes.

We ask for a generation of leaders who will be willing to act justly so that those who have contributed so little to the problems we are facing, and have fewer resources with which to face it, are not left to shoulder our burden. We pray and ask that oceans of justice may flow.

That there be a genuine outpouring of love that leads to righteous action as we seek to honour your calling on our lives to care for creation and to see you earth again flourish

We know that this can be so as you stir us from just thinking and singing, and ask you move increasing numbers into action

For you have shown us, what is good - that we should indeed act justly and to love mercy - and to walk humbly with your God.

May it be so as we make these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour - the Light and Hope of the World.

Christian Climate Action (CCA) will be present throughout the event, on the corner of Little Sanctuary and Broad Sanctuary, witnessing through prayer, pilgrimage, outreach and action.

For more information see: https://christianclimateaction.org/2022/10/22/the-big-one/