LiveSimply prayers

LiveSimply prayer

Compassionate and loving God,
you created the world for us all to share,
a world of beauty and plenty.
Create in us a desire to live simply,
so that our lives may reflect your generosity.
Creator God,
You gave us responsibility for the earth,
a world of riches and delight.
Create in us a desire to live sustainably,
so that those who follow after us
may enjoy the fruits of your creation.
God of peace and justice,
You give us the capacity to change,
to bring about a world that mirrors your wisdom.
Create in us a desire to act in solidarity,
so that the pillars of injustice crumble
and those now crushed are set free.
Amen.

Linda Jones / CAFOD

Walk lightly

Walk lightly
Each leaf, each petal,
each grain, each person,
sings your praises,
Creator God.
Each creature on the earth,
all the mountains and great seas
show your glory,
Spirit of love.
And yet the hand of greed
has patented and plundered
your splendour,
has taken and not shared
your gift,
has lived as owner of the earth,
not guest.
And so
the ice is cracked
the rivers dry,
the valleys flooded
and the snowcaps melt.
God our Father, show us
how to step gently,
how to live simply,
how to walk lightly
with respect and love
for all that you have made.
Amen

Linda Jones/CAFOD

A LiveSimply creed

We believe…

We believe in God
who gave us a world to share
in friendship, equality and peace.

We believe in God
who created all people and our world out of love.
We recognise that the world is unequal and unjust
and that we are individually and collectively
responsible for being good stewards
and for working with hope and love
to restore God’s kingdom on earth.
We believe in Christ, living, suffering, dying and rising,
the life force in the whole of creation.
We believe in one world, one people,
fed from one table.
We believe that we are all vital parts of Christ’s body,
reflecting his love,
by and through our actions, compassion, attitudes and choices.
We believe we are God’s instruments
through which by faith, prayer and action
we will change the world.

We believe in a God of love,
who calls all of us to listen to each other,
to actively share and treat each other as equals in humility and hope.

We believe that within God’s circle of love, faith and trust
we all share in a worldwide hunger for justice
as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Written by a group of CAFOD volunteers

Vision of wholeness

God of grace,
creator of a world of plenty,
the heavens declare your glory
and the earth your generosity.
In love, you created us
and in your likeness you made us
to be partners in creation.
In greed, we have turned away
and have marred your image in us
to fashion a fragmented world.

Renew in us your vision of wholeness,
that the rich may restore wealth to the poor
and the poor share blessings with the rich.
Revive in us a passion for justice,
that the tyranny of profit be quelled
and whispers of freedom find voice.
Refresh in us our sense of calling,
that we may follow Christ in serving others
and live simply with those who simply live.

Amen.

Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD