19.11.2015
National Day of Prayer for the UN Climate Summit – November 29
Eco–Congregation Ireland is encouraging people throughout Ireland to pray for a successful outcome to the upcoming UN Climate Summit, otherwise known as COP21, that will take place in Paris from 30th November to 11th December 2015.
The Irish Council of Churches has backed a proposal from Eco–Congregation Ireland that the eve of the Summit – Sunday 29th November – be named a National Day of Prayer for the UN Climate Summit and it is hoped that all church services throughout Ireland that day will include a prayer for a successful outcome of the climate summit.
“The COP 21 climate summit in Paris in December represents a real moment of opportunity for the world leaders to come up with an enforceable, sustainable programme for reducing carbon emissions, which will be necessary to keep global temperature rise under two degrees Celsius,” says Eco–Congregation Ireland Chairperson the Ven Andrew Orr.
“Christians everywhere need to be people of both prayer and action in the run up to these talks. Pressure has to be put on politicians to make this summit meaningful and this will happen if we make our voices heard. At the same time, our prayers help us to stand in solidarity with all life on our planet and especially the poorest communities most affected by climate change. By joining our intercessions with our actions, we become part of the answer to our own prayers. Please join us in making a real difference.”
Parishes might like to use the following prayer Eco–Congregation Ireland prepared for this year’s Creation Time –
Creator God, we confess that the way we are using fossil fuels and other destructive forms of energy today is destroying the forests, changing the climate, the seas, the soils, the biodiversity and the balance of life on our fragile planet, dispossessing the poor and future generations. Help the world’s leaders meeting in Paris and all of us here to choose life for all that is at risk – for neighbours near and far and for all who come after us. Give us the wisdom to learn what we do not know but long to understand, so that we may honour and nurture all that makes us one with you.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord . Amen
Other suitable prayers can be found at www.ecocongregationireland.com.
As well as observing the National Day of Prayer, Eco–Congregation is also encouraging people to take action by joining in the People’s Climate Marches that will take place on 29th November in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast that day. See www.stopclimatechoaos.ie for further details.