Words and Voice Jon Swales
Music: Sad Piano Instrumental, Copyright Free , Naoya Sakamata, Heartless Flock
Father of Creation,
God of Faithfulness,
If we ascend up into heaven,
You are there:
and if we make our bed in hell,
you are there.
We have made our climate bed,
It is hell
And we may well lie in it.
But you are there, and
You are here
To you be all praise and glory
As temperatures rise you are there,
As sea levels rise you are there.
Comforting,
Loving,
You offer Proximity and Presence
Challenging,
Beckoning,
You offer Proximity and Presence.
Father of Creation
God of Faithfulness,
If we to take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead us
And Your right hand shall hold us,
To you be praise and glory
We have travelled to the uttermost part of the sea,
As sons and daughters into the far country,
We have followed the siren song of consumerist delight, and now,
We reap what we have sown, and
Without help will be dashed against the rocks.
But even here you hold us
To you be praise and glory
As temperatures rise,
You hold us.
As sea levels rise
You hold us.
Comforting,
Loving,
Offering us Proximity and Presence.
Challenging,
Beckoning
Offering us Proximity and Presence.
If we had the wings of a bird we would fly away,
Away from the grief,
Away from the hurt,
Away from the existential threat which humanity faces.
But we don’t have wings and are bound to frail flesh.
But in our grief, hurt and danger,
You are there and your hand will guide us
Loving,
Comforting
Offering Proximity and Presence
Challenging
Beckoning
Offering Proximity and Presence
And so we lift up to you,
The foolish decisions from councils, corporations and governments, to
Expand airports &
Expand flights,
Despite the sure and certain knowledge that as it currently stands,
Such a choice plunges us further into the catastrophic and choppy waters
Of runaway climate breakdown,
Lord have mercy.
Bring repentance and recalibration,
We pray.
In our foolishness
Love us and comfort us.
Lord have mercy
In our foolishness
Challenge and Beckon us
Afresh to
To the beautiful dream,
The better story
In which our desire for overseas holidays,
Does not outweigh our commitment for justice, peace and the flourishing of all.
And so we lift up to you,
Our temptations and desires,
To travel the world and behold the wonder
Knowing that as it stands our flights support an industry that brings destruction.
When we did not know, we could not act.
Now we know, we must act,
We must perform and participate in a kingdom manner
That does justice and loves mercy.
In our foolishness,
Love us and comfort us.
Lord have mercy
In our foolishness
Challenge and Beckon us
Afresh to
To the beautiful dream,
The better story
In which our desire for overseas holidays,
Does not outweigh our commitment for justice, peace and the flourishing of all.
And so we pray for those who fly
For family reasons, business or recreation,
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