Ash Wednesday Lament

O God of creation. You have created land for us to make our gardens and for trees, animals and all living creatures on the earth. Forgive us for our destruction of the land by logging and poisonous chemicals. We turn to you in sorrow and repentance. Help us O Lord to care for the land that you have given us. God of the universe, the ocean and of love. You have given us the ocean for fish, shells, reefs, whales, waves, corals, and for ships and boats. We have destroyed the ocean and everything in it, and not cared for it. We turn to you in sorrow and repentance. Help us to care for the ocean, and to recognise that it is your blessing for us. God of the forest, in which all living things survive and engage their life and move peacefully. You have given us wisdom, knowledge and understanding to use our resources well in a manageable manner. We have been careless, short-sighted, and selfish and failed to share with other people throughout the world. Help us to see the needs of others as you have seen us living in your beautiful forest. God of the universe, the God who created the atmosphere. By your power of creation, you made the sky so beautiful, the sun to give us light during the day and the moon and the stars to give light during the night. You have given us clouds to bring rain and give life to your creatures. Lord, we turn to you with a penitent heart for all the destruction we have caused to the atmosphere. Merciful God, God of love and everything in this world. You have created the rain, winds, storms, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes and floods to renew your creation. Help us to understand their existence in your world. Father forgive us for the human activities which have overpowered the weather and caused destruction of our environment. God you are our creator, the source of all wisdom and power. You have created humans and animals and you have appointed us humans to be responsible for them. Forgive us who destroy your creatures. We turn to you in sorrow and repentance. Help us Lord to love and to care for them as you care for us.

Written by members of the four Religious Orders in the Anglican Church of Melanesia.