Diane Cooksey, our Area Dean and also our good friend from St Nicholas in the cluster, gave this reflection on the Diocesan website this week.
I’ve added here a contemporary and a more traditional creation prayer for the week.
Urban Benedicite (Oliver Powell)
O let our city bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever,’
O let our city bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O bricks and mortar, bless God,
O concrete and glass, bless God.
O underground pipes and wires, bless God,
O tarmac and paving stones, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O dandelions and daisies, bless God,
O cherry trees and geraniums, bless God.
O pigeons and seagulls, bless God,
O cats and dogs, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O homes and gardens, bless God,
O shops and offices, bless God,
O hospitals and police stations, bless God,
O factories and depots, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O bikes and buses, bless God,
O cars and vans, bless God,
O lorries and trams, bless God,
O shopping trollies and pushchairs, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O work of our hands, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O work of our minds, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O families and loners, bless God,
O babies to oldies, bless God,
O street cleaners and traffic wardens, bless God,
O property developers and planners, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
O Daniel, Aisha and Harriet, bless God,
O Uncle Kah Wan and all, bless God,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
May you be blessed, O God, in Your city,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
May You be blessed, O God, in Your city,
‘To You be glory and praise forever.’
Benedicite English (Common Worship)
Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord you heavens:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord:
bless the Lord all you his hosts;
bless the Lord you waters above the heavens:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord sun and moon:
bless the Lord you stars of heaven;
bless the Lord all rain and dew:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord all winds that blow:
bless the Lord you fire and heat;
bless the Lord scorching wind and bitter cold:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord dews and falling snows:
bless the Lord you nights and days;
bless the Lord light and darkness:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord frost and cold:
bless the Lord you ice and snow;
bless the Lord lightnings and clouds:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
O let the earth bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you mountains and hills;
bless the Lord all that grows in the ground:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord you springs:
bless the Lord you seas and rivers;
bless the Lord you whales and all that swim in the waters:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord all birds of the air:
bless the Lord you beasts and cattle;
bless the Lord all people on earth:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
O people of God bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord;
bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.