Hosea 14:4-8 (The Message)
"I will heal their waywardness. I will love them lavishly. My anger is played out. I will make a fresh start with Israel. He'll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring. He'll put down deep oak tree roots, he'll become a forest of oaks! He'll become splendid—like a giant sequoia, his fragrance like a grove of cedars! Those who live near him will be blessed by him, be blessed and prosper like golden grain. Everyone will be talking about them, spreading their fame as the vintage children of God. Ephraim is finished with gods that are no-gods. From now on I'm the one who answers and satisfies him. I am like a luxuriant fruit tree. Everything you need is to be found in me."
Prayer for Arbor Day
Good God, Creator of the world, draw us into prayer and celebration as we gather to remember the gifts of your earth and the stewardship you have entrusted to us as tillers and tenders in your image.
We know that in the gathering of the people, power is present among us; your Holy Spirit stirs and moves and gives us courage to remember that all good gifts come first from you.
We praise you for this creation in the words of the Psalmist, sung by our ancestors in faith for generations: "God speaks: the heavens are made; God breathes: the stars shine. God bottles the waters of the sea and stores them in the deep all earth, be astounded, stand in awe of God."
Keep us faithful to this gathering in faith and "bless this vine your right hand has planted." Now and forever, Amen.
(Prayer taken from liturgy materials used on Earth Day 1997 at Seattle University)
Link to Arbor Day Foundation
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