GARDEN BLESSING
Psalm 65, selected verses
What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you…. You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!
Wonderful Creator,
We praise you for our lives on this amazing planet. We thank you for green and growing things, for the beauty of this world. We thank you for seed and soil, rain, sun – and for the ability to grow good things to eat. Thank you for those in our congregation who have given of their resources, their knowledge, their labor in preparing the soil and planting.
Generous Giver of every good gift, bless this garden that it may bless our lives and the lives of others. May friendship grow as the plants grow; may joy and fellowship accompany the labor. Protect these plants from pests , disease, or drought, and may the harvest be abundant. May the food from this garden nourish and strengthen our bodies for your service. May those who receive this produce through the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank know it is a gift of your love, expressed through us. May the flowers grow and add beauty to this garden and provide income for youth ministry. May this garden give witness to your creative power, your beauty, your love, and bring glory to you. Amen.
Psalm 65, selected verses
What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you…. You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!
Wonderful Creator,
We praise you for our lives on this amazing planet. We thank you for green and growing things, for the beauty of this world. We thank you for seed and soil, rain, sun – and for the ability to grow good things to eat. Thank you for those in our congregation who have given of their resources, their knowledge, their labor in preparing the soil and planting.
Generous Giver of every good gift, bless this garden that it may bless our lives and the lives of others. May friendship grow as the plants grow; may joy and fellowship accompany the labor. Protect these plants from pests , disease, or drought, and may the harvest be abundant. May the food from this garden nourish and strengthen our bodies for your service. May those who receive this produce through the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank know it is a gift of your love, expressed through us. May the flowers grow and add beauty to this garden and provide income for youth ministry. May this garden give witness to your creative power, your beauty, your love, and bring glory to you. Amen.
We beg You in Your goodness, almighty God,
ReplyDeleteto pour the showers of Your blessing
upon these newly budding plants and vines which You have made, and which You have been so kind as to nourish with temperate weather and sufficient rain.
Bring the fruits of Your earth to full ripeness.
Grant, too, that Your people may always give You thanks for Your gifts, so that You may fill them that are hungry with the fruits of a fertile land and that the poor and the needy may praise the glory of Your name, through Christ our Lord.
What good prayers. Thank you both.
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