kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth

Draw us into harmony with your will

This world that we live in is a truly wonderful place. Everywhere we look we can see something of beauty. In England we have so many areas of outstanding natural beauty, from places like the Lake District, pictured above; the big skies in the Fens, where I live; wonderful coastal areas; etc etc — I could go on and on. And maybe I’m spoilt more than many people, because I also enjoy urban and industrial areas. I like to see the straight lines and patterns made by man-made structures, especially in silhouette against a great looking sky.

I would guess that the same as applies to England applies to the rest of the world. I haven’t travelled outside of the United Kingdom myself, but from what I’ve seen in pictures and on the television, I’d say there are many, many, places around the world that are as beautiful, if not more so, as England: Ayres Rock; The Grand Canyon; Niagara Falls; The Himalayas; etc etc — again, I could go on and on.

Sadly, though, with all of this beauty around us, I think we’re a long way from being in harmony with God’s will. We’re wrecking our planet. Environmental issues are becoming a huge concern, or at least they should be, for all of humankind. For most of us the really big issues are overwhelming, and there feels little we can do personally. It really needs change at national governmental level.

But there is one area that I think each and every one of us can have an effect on. And it doesn’t need to cost us more financially. One thing I can’t help noticing when I look around this wonderful world we live in, is the amount of rubbish that’s always visible. It doesn’t seem to matter where you look, there’ll be a scrap of paper flying around, or a discarded plastic bottle, or a tin can, or, more often than not, all of those and many many more! Even if we don’t actively do anything about what is already there, we can ensure that we don’t add to it.

I can remember as a child there was always an anti-litter campaign of one sort or another going on. Perhaps we need more of them now, or more visible campaigns. In England there is a Campaign to Protect Rural England, but it isn’t particularly visible.

I’m sure there is much that each of us could do better. But even if all we do is ensure that we, personally, don’t add to the growing litter mountain, and ensure that we recycle whatever we’re able to, then we’ll be moving towards harmony with God’s will — at least in this one area. And, maybe starting in small ways, it will encourage us to become more involved in larger ways. We may even find that there is something we can contribute to the larger environmental issues that our planet is facing.

Gracious Father,
by the obedience of Jesus
you brought salvation to our wayward world:
draw us into harmony with your will,
that we may find all things restored in him,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Fourth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Hold us fast to your promises of peace

Peace! Real world peace! It sometimes seems to be just an impossible dream. There’s so much conflict in the world, so much upheaval, there doesn’t appear to be enough room left for real peace.

However people all around the world are trying, are working towards a genuine peace. It doesn’t make the front pages of our newspapers, or other prominent places, as much as we’d like. But that may well be as much to do with the fact that bad news and conflict sell more than good news and peace.

There is much still to do. And the sheer size of the task is overwhelming. But that should not, must not, stop us from making an effort. As an individual it sounds impossible; but once we’re able to start seeing what others are doing, and joining our efforts with their efforts, it doesn’t seem quite so daunting. To help, a little, with that I want to start talking about the International Day of Peace that takes place every year on 21st September.

The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981, and was first celebrated in 1982. The Resolution…

“Declares that the International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day…

“Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate, in an appropriate manner, the International Day of Peace, including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.”

The International Day of Peace website is packed full of information about what is trying to be achieved; and how each of us as individuals, and the groups we might belong to, can join in the campaign. Do, please, spend some time looking at what’s on there, and see what you can do this year.

This is one practical way we can pray this Collect for The Third Sunday after Trinity.

YOU can make EVERY DAY count
for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.

EVERY DAY is an opportunity for YOU
to spread hope for a Global Ceasefire
and day of peace and nonviolence
in our homes, our communities and between nations.

Peace on Earth Begins With YOU… TODAY.

God our Saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Third Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council