Earth Day Collect

(I freely adapted this prayer found online from a few Earth Day's ago...)

Good God, Creator of the world, draw us into prayer and celebration as we gather to remember the gifts of Earth that you have entrusted to us as tillers and tenders in your garden.

Help us to know that in the gathering of the people, power is present among us: your Holy Spirit stirs and moves and gives us courage to engage the Great Work that lies before us.  Help us to so love Earth that our very lives will heal the soil and refresh the air and water.  Inspire in us the ambition to add our happy voices to the chorus of praise that daily rises from the rest of all your creatures.   Mitigate our heavy, noisome, oppressive presence on the blighted patches that are strip mine, clear cut, slurry pond and cafo. 

We pray in the name of your Anointed One who taught us from seaside and river, grassy plain and mountain top, grain field and vineyard that Your Presence is at hand, not even a breath away, beautiful and holy in all respects, and that in your presence Earth rings with Alleluias.  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.