Prayers on this Earth Day (Philip Newell, Praying with the Earth) PRAYER OF AWARENESS It is in the depths of life that we find you at the heart of this moment at the centre of our soul deep in the earth and its eternal stirrings. You are the Ground of all being the Well-Spring of time Womb of the Earth the Seed-Force of stars. so at the opening of this day PRAYER FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD For everything that emerges from the earth thanks be to you, O God, Holy Root of being Sacred Sap that rises Full-bodied Fragrance of earth's unfolding form. May we know that we are of You may we know that we are in You may we know that we are one with You together one. Guide us as nations to what is deepest open us as peoples to what is first lead us as a world to what is dearest that we may know the holiness of wholeness that we may learn the strength of humility that together we may live close to the earth and grow in grounded glory. PRAYER OF BLESSING May the deep blessings of earth be with us. May the fathomless soundings of seas surge in our soul. May boundless stretches of the universe echo in our depths to open us to wonder to strengthen us for love to humble us with gratitude that we may find ourselves in one another that we may lose ourselves in gladness that we give ourselves to peace.