Prayer for the Diversity of Creation

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Originally written for the International Day for Biological Diversity in 2025, this prayer can be used at any time of the year to celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and our call to be in harmony with all that God has created. It comes with a downloadable PowerPoint slide, jpeg or pdf. If you are using, please do acknowledge CCOW.

 

Creator of all things,
Your greatness is seen
In the diversity of creation,
Whose myriad different elements
Join together to hymn your praise.

Help us to listen to creation’s song,
And to perceive the distinctive beauty of each note.
Guide us, so that our words and our actions
May respect and preserve
Our fellow creatures and the common home we share,
Bringing us into harmony with each other and all of nature
For the good of all
And the glory of your name.
Amen

Biodiversity Prayer (pdf)

Biodiversity Prayer (PowerPoint)

Biodiversity Prayer (jpeg)

CCOW Prayer for Refugee Week 2023

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The theme of Refugee Week 2023 is ‘Compassion’ – and CCOW’s prayer is a reminder of God’s compassion on us, and our call to share that compassion and love our neighbour.

It’s reproduced below in plain text, and you can also download two different PowerPoint and print versions of it, if you’d like to use it in a service or put a small poster up in your church.

Loving God,
You sustain us with mercy and grace
And call us to share the compassion w receive.
Help us to love as you want us to love:
Not to ask ‘Who is my neighbour?’
But to see our neighbour in everyone we encounter
And to offer help and hospitality when people are hurting.

In a world that can be rushed, give us patience and time to care.
In a world that can be harsh, help us to be kind.
In a world that can be fearful, make us bearers of hope.

We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord,
Who came from heaven to earth,
Lived among us as a wanderer,
And offers salvation to all.

 

Download the PowerPoint

Download the print version with a picture of a child

Download the print version with a picture of refugees in a boat

Prayer for Child Soldiers

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A prayer to end the recruitment and use of children in conflict – and for the healing of those who have been forced into conflict, and those whom they have harmed.

Download a PowerPoint version of the prayer: Prayer for Child Soldiers.

Dear Lord,
We pray for children whose childhood has been interrupted,
For young eyes which have seen far too much,
Young hands trained to hold weapons,
Young feet forced to march,
Young minds seared by commands
No child should encounter.

O Prince of Peace,
Who gathered the children to Yourself
And blessed them,
We pray for children used in conflicts to be set free,
For your healing to restore their bodies and minds
And the bodies and minds of those they have harmed,
For their reconciliation within families and communities
And an end to cycles of grief and trauma.

And we pray, O Lord, who created all things
And whose love is everywhere,
Bring a just and peaceful resolution of the conflicts
That rend our world
And that put children and adults in harm’s way.
Your Kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

Fair Trade Prayers and Reflections from CCOW

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Are you looking for Fair Trade prayers and reflections for a church service or for personal prayer? Materials for Prayer and Reflection on Fair Trade offers the materials we’ve provided for Fairtrade Fortnight Church Action Guides and other resources over the years.

Download the resource

Resources for praying with and for South Sudan

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