Month's End: Pentecost and Praying the News

The last Sunday in May was Pentecost this year. Pentecost is a fitting time not only to look back at the gift of the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost described in Acts 2:1-21, but also to consider how the Spirit calls and empowers the church today to share the Gospel.

Our Psalm on Pentecost Sunday (Psalm 104:25-35, 37b) praises God for the earth and for the great variety of creatures  – “O Lord, how manifold are your works” – and for God’s provision for creation. It’s a picture of the abundance and biodiversity we would expect to find in the unspoiled creation of a gracious and loving God.

The Epistle lesson from Romans 8:22-27 describes human beings and all of creation waiting together for redemption. Paul talks about hoping for things we cannot yet see, because “hope that is seen is not hope”.

Surely the Spirit calls us in the church to be part of God’s redeeming work for the earth as well as humankind. The world described in Psalm 104 is a picture of the Reign of God, where even the Leviathan, the serpent of the sea, is something good and playful. One way to tell whether a push or pull toward action is of the Spirit is to look at whether it works for or against the restoration of God’s creation. Even when hope seems slim, we are called to trust in God’s power and do the redemptive work of the Gospel.

Some of the news stories from this past month were so devastating that we might very well find it difficult to pray in response to them. Where do we begin? Our spoken prayers can seem inadequate. St. Paul says (Romans 8:26): “We do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” I ask your prayers for some of the situations that leave us at the point of placing much hope in the deep prayer of the Spirit

Acceptance our repentance, Lord for the wrongs we have done: for our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, Accept our repentance, Lord.

From the Litany of Penitence (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 268)

Please pray for:

The future of life on the earth as greenhouse gas levels rise.  Many scientists consider 350 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to be the upper limit of safe levels of the gas for life as we know it. Today there were reports  that monitoring stations this spring across the Arctic are measuring more than 400 ppm. Worldwide, levels average around 397ppm. May also brought a report from the International Energy Agency(IEA) that CO2 emissions reached a record high of 31.6 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2011. This is a 1.0 Gt increase over 2010 levels.

Wisdom to find just and compassionate ways to address the economic consequences of climate change. We are beginning to understand more about the way climate change will affect us economically. Some are beginning to talk about what scientist and climate writer Joe Romm calls “Dust-Bowlification”, the expectation that the sort of aridity associated with Dust Bowl may spread from Kansas to California by mid-century, endangering agriculture and food security. CBS News ran a piece on assessing the risk of climate change that explored some of the economic effects we have already seen.

People exposed to toxic chemicals. Discussion of the proposed Safe Chemicals Act  has brought our attention to our exposure to toxic chemicals. For example, an article today reports  that chemicals like fire retardants are being detected in common foods. Young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of these chemicals.

Grateful hearts.  Along with some record-breaking heat and severe weather, May has also brought some beautiful days to be outdoors in Nebraska. May we continue to find joy and meaning in God’s creation and give God thanks for the goodness of God’s creation.

We might also pray for our own hearts to be open so we can see the needs in the world around us and gladly respond to those needs:

O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty; Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Joy in God’s Creation (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 814)

Shade and Shelter

Settlers on the Great Plains had a special appreciation for trees, planting and caring for them so generations to come might enjoy them and have the benefits of shelter from the wind and sun, fruits and nuts, and beauty through the changing seasons. With our tradition of tree-planting in Nebraska, today's meditation (May 23) in Forward Day by Day may be especially meaningful to us. 

The author is writing on Isaiah 4:2-6:  "[The canopy] will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain." She writes about the canopies of trees and some of the reasons we should care for trees, suggesting that they have such importance for us that they should take precedence over some other things that more often than not get our attention and our resources:

As we move to include stewardship of the earth and its resources as a mission of the church, we must begin by listening to the voices of the trees and the whisper of the leaves, and not to the voices of the corporations whose only goal is to grow their wealth.

Read the entire meditation here ; follow links for May 23 if necessary. And say a prayer of thanksgiving for a favorite tree!

Reclaiming Rogation: Day III

The Rogation Days – traditionally the three days preceding Ascension Day – are a time for prayers of petition. The roots of these days in rural England is reflected in the timing of the days to coincide with the planting of crops in that part of the world, in prayers for the land and crops, and in the tradition of Rogation processions to bless the fields. In our current prayer book, readings and collects for the three days focus on these traditional rural concerns the first day, commerce and industry the second day, and stewardship of creation the third day.

Even though Rogation Days are ignored by many in the church today, we are blessed to have inherited the tradition of setting aside days to pray for the conditions we need to grow good crops, for industries and commercial ventures that are responsive to God’s will and that provide workers a just return for their labor, and for stewardship of creation. Rogation Sunday – the Sunday before Ascension Day – and the Rogation Days can be more than a wistful nod back to a charming tradition. This season of Rogation can be reclaimed to give us a time to talk about, think about, and pray about some vital issues.

Day III

The Collect for the third of the Rogation Days is “For stewardship of creation” (see below). Marion Hatchett’s Commentary on the American Prayer Book tells us (p. 214) that this is the new version of a collect called “For Faithfulness in the Use of this World’s Goods” that was included in the 1928 prayer book; that collect was based on a prayer that appeared in the Book of Offices proposed to the General Convention of 1889: “For the Rich”.

A prayer for the rich goes well with two of the lessons for Rogation Days III. The Gospel lesson (Luke 12:13-21 ) is the parable of the rich fool, the fellow who says he will build bigger barns and then  “I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” The lesson from I Timothy (I Timothy 6:7-10, 17-19) is the passage that tells us that the love of money is “a root of all kinds of evil”. It advises those who are rich to look to God for hope, adding that “they are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.”

The idea of “storing up…a good foundation for the future” applies not only to eternal life, but to our future on earth. How we who, by the world’s standards, are among the wealthy use our wealth has a big impact on the planet. If we continue to “eat, drink, and be merry”, consuming vast amounts of resources while denying reality, our future is pretty bleak. A story from Reuters news today is headlined: Door to 2 degree temperature limit isclosing – IEA. It quotes Fatih Birol, the chief economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA) saying that with existing investments for more power plants being built, “we are seeing the door for a 2 degree Celsius target about to be closed and closed forever.” Scientists tell us that a global temperature rise greater than two degrees Celsius raises the likelihood of climate instability with weather extremes becoming common. Birol warns, “This door is getting slimmer and slimmer in terms of physical and economic possibility.”

The choices we make as consumers and investors are key components of good stewardship. The issues of agricultural stability, integrity, and justice that were raised by the lessons and collects of the other two Rogation Days come together when we consider stewardship of our resources.

For the Rich

O ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee to send thy grace upon those whom thou hast entrusted with great possessions, that they may praise thee in their lives, honour thee with their wealth, and lead others by their example to seek for that inheritance which thy beloved Son will give to all those who have followed him. Have mercy upon such as neglect to minister to the wants of thy poor; and grant that, remembering the account of their stewardship which they must one day give, they may be faithful almoners of thy bounty, and so at last attain to thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the Book of Offices proposed to General Convention, 1889)

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit live and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 259)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Reclaiming Rogation: Day II

The Rogation Days – traditionally the three days preceding Ascension Day – are a time for prayers of petition. The roots of these days in rural England is reflected in the timing of the days to coincide with the planting of crops in that part of the world, in prayers for the land and crops, and in the tradition of Rogation processions to bless the fields. In our current prayer book, readings and collects for the three days focus on these traditional rural concerns the first day, commerce and industry the second day, and stewardship of creation the third day.

Even though Rogation Days are ignored by many in the church today, we are blessed to have inherited the tradition of setting aside days to pray for the conditions we need to grow good crops, for industries and commercial ventures that are responsive to God’s will and that provide workers a just return for their labor, and for stewardship of creation. Rogation Sunday – the Sunday before Ascension Day – and the Rogation Days can be more than a wistful nod back to a charming tradition. This season of Rogation can be reclaimed to give us a time to talk about, think about, and pray about some vital issues.

Day II

The second of the Rogation Days leads us to reflection on the meaning and purpose of work. Today many more Episcopalians are involved in some form of commerce or industry than are involved in planting and harvesting fields.  The Collect for Day II -- “For commerce and industry”  -- asks for God’s presence in the workplace, for those involved in commerce and industry to be responsive to God’s will; it asks that we might find pride in our work and have “a just return for our labor”.

The Gospel lesson (Matthew 6: 19-24) reminds us that no one can serve both God and wealth. One of them must take priority over the other. This would count as a fairly radical notion in some circles today, suggesting as it does that the pursuit of wealth and the pursuit of righteousness are two very different things. Jesus isn’t saying that it’s wrong to make a living or even to do very well at it; he is saying that there are some things more important than maximizing profits for the wealthy. Those things would include what the Collect mentions – doing work that is responsive to God’s will rather than working against God’s will, making sure that workers are paid fairly, being people of integrity who invite God into the workplace rather than compartmentalizing business and faith.

When we get our priorities straight and live according to our Christian values throughout the week, we end up doing our work in a way that upholds good stewardship of all our resources. We know that God has given us the gifts of land, water, air, and an amazingly diverse world of living things, and that care of those gifts must come before the accumulation of wealth. When we serve God first above all else, we see the necessity of sacrificing some wealth and luxuries and comforts for the long-term benefit of humankind and the rest of creation. The implications for industries employing practices such as mountaintop removal, fracking, and tar sands extraction are clear.

For commerce and industry

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with your people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to your will; and give to us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labot; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 259)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Reclaiming Rogation: Day I

The Rogation Days – traditionally the three days preceding Ascension Day – are a time for prayers of petition. The roots of these days in rural England is reflected in the timing of the days to coincide with the planting of crops in that part of the world, in prayers for the land and crops, and in the tradition of Rogation processions to bless the fields. In our current prayer book, readings and collects for the three days focus on these traditional rural concerns the first day, commerce and industry the second day, and stewardship of creation the third day.

Even though Rogation Days are ignored by many in the church today, we are blessed to have inherited the tradition of setting aside days to pray for the conditions we need to grow good crops, for industries and commercial ventures that are responsive to God’s will and that provide workers a just return for their labor, and for stewardship of creation. Rogation Sunday – the Sunday before Ascension Day – and the Rogation Days can be more than a wistful nod back to a charming tradition. This season of Rogation can be reclaimed to give us a time to talk about, think about, and pray about some vital issues.

Day I

The Collect for today, the first of the Rogation Days, is entitled “For fruitful seasons”. This Collect and the readings for today focus on a petition for harvests “of the land and of the seas” and the conditions necessary for sustaining good harvests.  This is something we understand in Nebraska, where our economy is based on agriculture! Climate stability, clean and plentiful water in our rivers, creeks, and aquifer, and soil conservation are all part of what we pray for when we pray for good growing conditions.

In one of the options for the Old Testament lesson for this Rogation Day (Jeremiah 14:1-9), Jeremiah describes the effects of a severe drought. The drought affects people – “the farmers are dismayed” – and wildlife – “Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass.” The passage ends with a plea for God’s help and a reminder of God’s presence. In a similar way, the passage from Romans (Romans 8:18-25) talks about living in hope while "the whole creation" is groaning. Paul reminds the Romans that hope is hope only when we can’t see the very thing for which we are hoping: “Now hope that is seen is not hope.”

In a time when severe weather events have been increasing, when the amount of greenhouse gases associated with climate change is increasing, and when the aggressive extraction of fossil fuels threatens not only our water and the Sandhills eco-system in Nebraska, but also water, land, and air quality in many places, these passages can remind us that we can live in hope even when the chances of turning things around seem to be slim.    

For fruitful seasons

Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, pp. 258-259)      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Praying the News: May 9, 2012

Stories about environmental degradation tend to get buried in a newstream of stories that seem more urgent, but often within the space of a few days there seem to be clusters of news stories related to the environment and to one another. These collections of interrelated stories can have a greater impact than a single story on us and on the way we think about environmental degradation. Hearing about one effect of climate change, for example, followed by another effect and another helps us better see the magnitude of climate change. It’s difficult to ignore a theme that pops up repeatedly and in a variety of places.

It’s good to have this reality check provided by clusters of stories. The danger is that these clusters can overwhelm us to the extent that we turn our backs on the reality; instead of spurring us to action, we can be so overwhelmed that we are unable to act.

Prayer can help us through such times. Taking regular times for prayer can help protect us from feeling overwhelmed; offering our concerns to God relieves the burden. We can allow ourselves to see the truth when we feel close to God. Prayer gives us a way to act even when we can’t figure out where to begin. Asking God for what we need and offering ourselves to do God’s work in the world is always a good place to begin. Worshiping God and thanking God for the gifts of God’s good creation help us to grow in humility and love. Acknowledging that God is in charge helps us not feel overwhelmed; feeling love for God, one another, and all of creation gives us the deep desire to do our part of the work of restoration to which God calls us.

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect For the Conservation of Natural Resources (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 827)

Please pray for:

Response to the warmest 12-month period in US records.  May 2011 to April 2012 was the warmest twelve months in 117 years of record-keeping in the 48 contiguous states. (See Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang blog   for a summary, or NOAA’s State of the Climate for April 2012.) Pray for more of us to pay attention to the increasing warmth and to find the will and the wisdom to take it into account in our decision-making and our planning.

Plants leafing out and flowering earlier than predicted. Irises used to be called “flags” in the Midwest because they bloomed around Memorial Day; they began blooming in central Nebraska in April this year. NASA reports that plants are leafing and flowering earlier than results from controlled climate warming experiments had suggested. The timing of leafing and flowering is an important indicator of climate change, and also has big impacts on ecosystems that rely on the timing of flowering, animal migrations and breeding times, water use, etc. to stay in balance. There are obvious impacts for agriculture as well, which is why our prayer for agriculture includes a petition for “seasonable weather”.

Eroding beaches. Seventy per cent of the beaches on the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Oahu, and Kaua’i  are eroding from sea level rise. The beach erosion is another visible impact of climate change and might well affect the tourist economy in beach areas.

Rising CO2 levels (396.18 ppm for April). Scientists tell us that 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the upper safe level to sustain life as we have known it; higher CO2 readings contribute to greater global warming. The reading for April 2012 was 396.18 .  In posting this reading on Twitter and Facebook, CO2 Now pointed out that we are on target to hit 400 ppm by April or May 2014.

Almighty God, we thank you for making the earth fruitful, so that it might produce what is needed for life: Bless those who work in the fields; give us seasonable weather; and grant that we may all share the fruits of the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Agriculture (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 824)

O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increases our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Future of the Human Race (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 828)

O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty; Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Joy in God’s Creation (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 814)

Connect the Dots 5/5/12

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Two events are planned in Nebraska to help us connect the dots between climate change and extreme weather on May 5, Climate Impacts Day. In Lincoln there will be an event featuring fun for families called Connect the Dots: Give our Children a Future from 1:30 to 3:30 near the Hyde Observatory in Holmes Lake Park. There will also be a Connect the Dots event at the Farmers Market in Omaha. The group will gather at 11^th and Howard in Old Market at 9:00 am.

We can follow events and see how the dots between climate change and extreme weather connect all around the world through the ClimateImpacts Day / Connect the Dots website .

Photo courtesy of NSSL

It’s important to connect the dots between extreme weather and climate change so that we can develop the desire to do something to address climate change that is happening now and that is expected to increase as this century progresses. It’s also important for people of faith to connect the dots between climate change and our Christian traditions of stewardship of creation, care for the poor and the sick, and an understanding of how the beauty of God’s creation feeds us spiritually.

The opportunity to see how people around the world are connecting the dots between climate change and impacts on their own lives gives us an opening to reflect on what we in the church need to be doing now as the Body of Christ in the world. How do we live out the promises from our baptismal covenant to love our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people when preventable climate change is increasingly impacting the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world?