A Prayer to Launch our CWS Appeal

This prayer was written by our Worship Committee Convenor, Penny Guy. It was used in the church service relating to the 2006 CWS Appeal: Water - the gift of life.

God of the oceans 

• We bring before you those who make their living from your marine bounty. Be with those that venture out in frail craft seeking food to feed their families. 

• We bring before you those who flee from oppressive regimes by taking to the sea. May they find a welcome in their landing place and the fortitude to begin again. 

• We bring before you those who have suffered from tsunamis in the Pacific and elsewhere. Comfort them and grant them willing helpers in the rebuilding process. 

• We bring before you those countries whose large factory ships plunder the ocean’s bounty without thought for the future. Give courage to those who oppose this and enable them to win others to their cause. 

God of the rivers, streams and lakes 

• We bring before you those who are without water because their rivers have dried up. Help those responsible for damming rivers in China and elsewhere to realise the long-term consequences of their actions. 

• We bring before you those whose rivers have flooded, destroying their homes and livelihoods. We ask that they will receive the help they need. 

• We bring before you those who pollute your waterways. Help us to stand up to them and demand greater accountability. 

God of the rain 

• We bring before you those who have too much rain. We think of the people of Afghanistan who have recently experienced flooding due to heavy rain and ask that sufficient aid may be given to alleviate their suffering. 

• We bring before you those who have no rain. We remember the farmers in Australia who have had no rain for several years and face the prospect of walking off their farms. Be with them as they seek new ways of living. 

• We bring before you those who suffer from the effects of acid rain. The people of Appalachia who no longer have trout in their streams and those in the Czech Republic whose forests are dead. Help those in power to see the necessity of legislating against the pollution that causes this. 

God of the wells, tanks, pumps and taps 

• We bring before you those who have to walk long distances to access safe water. Thank you for those groups who work to ensure all have access to safe drinking water. Be with them as they work and keep them safe and well. 

• We bring before you those who suffer from water-borne diseases. May their suffering be alleviated and their water supply made safe. 

• We bring before you those in the Western world who use more water than they need. Prick their consciences and stir them to action to conserve water. 

God of the living water 

Like the beating of our hearts water is so much a part of our surroundings and our bodies that we tend to take it for granted. But without water there is no life as we know it. We thank you for your abundant gift of water and ask that you help us become responsible guardians of it and generous in sharing your gift with others.