A prayer by Bishop Philip Huggins for care of God’s creation in advance of COP 25 Santiago, Chile 

The Santiago Climate Change Conference, which will feature the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and meetings of the UNFCCC subsidiary bodies, will take place from 2-13 December 2019 in Santiago, Chile. 

In appreciation of COP25 delegates' hard work, on Sunday 8 December a retreat is being offered to recharge and prepare for the second week of discussions. NCCA's President, Bishop Philip Huggins, will be one of the key people assisting with dialogue and meditations at the COP 25 recharge and reflection day.  

In a recent article published in The Melbourne Anglican, Archbishop Philip Freier, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, has encouraged us to stand in support of this gracious and transformative initiative,  Archbishop Freier has likened this time of retreat to that of Jesus' praying in "deserted places" (Luke 5:16) and as such encourages congregations to pray.

"...plan to join in solidarity with Bishop Philip and his colleagues as they gather with the COP 25 participants in Santiago. I know that many are concerned for the nations of the world to reach a consensus about action which will limit global temperature rise through reducing carbon emissions. The mutuality of prayer is one of the great gifts that we have in the body of Christ. It is something that is distinctive to us as people of faith and I commend this time for your attention." 

 A prayer for care of God’s creation, by Bishop Philip Huggins, NCCA President

Gracious God,

We give thanks afresh that you have entrusted us with the care of all your creation: Every living creature, the earth itself! (Genesis 1:26)

We give thanks, as ever, for your gift of our life on our beautiful planet in our galaxy, within a universe filled with billions of other galaxies, all of your creating. 

With renewed wonder and awe, we recognise your cosmic perspective in our common life as one human family, with stardust in our bones.

We pray thus in the Holy Spirit, through Jesus, the One in whom “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17), that we may have your discernment for our work to prevent global temperatures from rising.

Remembering Jesus’ word to us, that “whatever we do for one of the most vulnerable, we do for you” (Matthew 25: 33-40), we pray now for those already affected by climate change, like those in neighbouring Pacific Island nations and in places of more frequent and extreme climatic events.

We pray thus for the grace to hear and heed the new, young prophetic voices who say “act as if your house is on fire … because it is!”

We pray thus for all involved in upcoming United Nations climate negotiations, including soon in Chile.

We pray for the leaders of our nation as they try to make wise policy amidst many competing voices.

We pray too for strengthened resolve to make our own best contributions in daily life as stewards of all you give us.

All this and much that is in our hearts, we gather and pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. 

Read The Melbourne Anglican article Yearning, praying, for a world restored in Christ published 7 October 2019

Download the invitations to the COP25 recharge and reflection day here  https://www.ncca.org.au/newsletters/392-cop25-retreat-invitation/file