PRAYERS FOR THE DROUGHT
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
Prolonged drought is severely affecting rural NSW and Queensland. Farmers and graziers are hardest hit. Drought quenching rain is needed.
As Christians we pray for rain and for those whose livelihoods are impacted by this. May our combined prayers acknowledge our dependence on our Creator God and seek guidance to better manage our country’s water resources.
Rev. Simon Hansford, Moderator of the Uniting Church NSW/ACT Synod has prepared the following prayer. We are encouraged to use this in church services and personal reflections.
We pray for the land
we hear the promise you have spoken in Isaiah
of the refreshment of the creation;
of water in the desert,
of renewal for the land,
of hope, of life.
We name our simple need – rain for our thirsty land.
Our tanks and dams are nearly empty,
like our hopes for this season.
Please, loving God, bring us rain
to renew the ground, to replenish our dams,
to bring some chance of feed,
to bring the possibility of some reward
to those who have toiled so hard.
We turn to you in faith and hope.
We pray for our community
We pray for all those whose lives
are under the shadow of drought.
We think first of those who work with the land,
for farmers and their families,
for those who rely upon the land for their life and relationships.
We pray for contractors, merchants and truck drivers,
for rural counsellors and support workers,
for all our rural community.
May the refreshment of your Spirit,
present in miraculous and truly human ways,
be with all of us as we move forward into the days ahead.
We pray, too, for justice;
for fair prices for our stock and our wool and our crops.
We pray for governments, banks and corporations –
to be driven by the wisdom
of community, justice and compassion
not simply the folly of the dollar and the bottom line.
We pray for each other,
keep us aware of the needs of those around us:
for those who are struggling,
who are grieving,
who are ill, who are dying.
Restore those who are far from you
with the knowledge that they are loved and valued.
Give them not just a sense of renewal,
but a sense of hope and purpose for lives
that are finding the journey hard.
Let us see the miracle of healing
in relationships,
in lives,
in communities,
where there is illness
and hope is far away.
Keep us always conscious of the task we have
in ministry and mission in your world.
We offer all these prayers in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Glenn Davies, has encouraged Anglicans to pray the following:
Our heavenly Father, we acknowledge our ingratitude when we have taken your goodness for granted, when the heaven has poured forth rain and the earth has produced its fruit.
Yet now we cry to you for help, as the drought in New South Wales deepens.
Have mercy on our land; have mercy on the people of the land. May your bountiful hand send forth rain upon our parched earth.
Fulfil your promises that while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest shall not cease, so that those in remote and rural areas may find relief from their distress and glorify your name for the provision of their needs.
We ask this in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
More prayers related to drought, rain and water can be found at Greenfaith under Christian Prayers for Water
Donations can be made to the following church funds:
The Salvation Army
Donate online at Salvos.org.au or go to Rural Chaplains and Drought Relief Support
Read – Dig deep to support our farmers
Access assistance or donate - The Salvation Army is supporting Farmers and communities affected by drought
The Uniting Church in Australia – NSW/ACT Synod
Anglican Church
Donate through Anglican Aid
Read Sydney Anglicans article -Archbishop of Sydney launches appeal for funds to assist those whose livelihood has been seriously jeopardised by the drought in northern and western NSW.
Catholic Church
NSW Drought Appeal operated by St Vincent de Paul Society.
Donate online at Vinnnies.org.au
If you are aware of any further drought relief funds set up by our member churches please advise us by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will be happy to pass the word on.
