The Day of Prayer is supported by the Environmental Issues Network (EIN) of Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI). A key aim is to pray for God’s will to be done during the decisive Copenhagen COP 15 talks this December. Christians of all denominations are joining together to express their concerns over the seriousness and urgency of our global situation.
Sunday October 4th was the first agreed Day of Prayer. This material is also ideal for use at any time before and during the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen from 7th to 18th December 2009. You can arrange a Day of Prayer as appropriate in your local situation - or you can use the material for shorter times of reflection during lunchtimes or services. The weekend of December 5th and 6th, when the WAVE demonstrations take place in London and Glasgow would be a very appropriate time.
We also encourage people to combine their prayer with fasting as a mark of our concern and the crucial nature of these talks. Our suggested focus for praying and fasting will be for 15 days beginning on Friday 4th December (as delegates are briefed and leave their offices).
Although CTBI is hosting these resources, they have been written by Dr Isabel Carter, in coordination with Operation Noah. For more information email: dayofprayer@operationnoah.org [1]
There are many useful, downloadable resources for use on your day of prayer. Click on the links below to download these resources for your own use with your church and community:
1) The Day of Prayer sample ideas [2]: Includes short example prayers, sermon ideas, readings and more. For example the following prayer:
Forgive us Lord for our thoughtless wasting
For heat blasting in open doorways
for lights burning in empty rooms
for homes basking in T-shirt warmth
forgive our thoughtless wasting.
For leaving windows draughty,
for lagging left undone,
for lofts un-insulated
forgive our thoughtless wasting.
For cars that guzzle petrol
for driving little journeys
for cheaper fares on planes
forgive our thoughtless wasting.
God grant us clear thinking, right action, and a gentle life-style.
Anon
2) How to run your own Day of Prayer [3]: useful, step by step instructions on how to organise and run your own Day of Prayer
3) Welcome Sheet [4]: An introduction and welcome
4) Day of Prayer poster [5]: for you to use to advertise and publicise your Day of Prayer in the community
5) Day of Prayer full content [6]: eighty-two inspirations from poems, scientific briefs, quotations from secular commentators to prayers and sermon ideas. An unmissable resource in the build up to Copenhagen and beyond.
Links:
[1] mailto:dayofprayer@operationnoah.org
[2] http://www.on.paragraphics.co.uk/sites/default/files/sample content.pdf
[3] http://www.on.paragraphics.co.uk/sites/default/files/runnig a day of prayer.pdf
[4] http://www.on.paragraphics.co.uk/sites/default/files/welcome sheet finalised.pdf
[5] http://www.on.paragraphics.co.uk/sites/default/files/DOP poster.pdf
[6] http://www.on.paragraphics.co.uk/sites/default/files/Day_of_Prayer_Full_content2.pdf
[7] http://www.operationnoah.org/sites/default/files/praying-hands.jpg