Eternal God & loving heavenly Father, we thank You this day for the
whole of Your creation and not just sinful man’s part within it. We
thank You for the vast animal creation which existed before we humans
came in to being. Yet we thank You that the animals were given their
names by us, so that we might administer a truly caring stewardship over
them. We thank You indeed for the message of Noah and his ark of refuge:
That there were not only places of refuge for mankind but, far more so,
for the animals as well.
Priest: 'Lord in Your mercy':
People's response: "Hear this our prayer"
Gracious God, we realize that Your salvation of old was not confined
to humanity but embraced two of every kind of chosen creature under the
face of the earth' Then precious Lord, mercifully forgive the
blinkeredness of today's church which bars salvation to those that the
Ark of old included. Dear God - You who covenanted with the animals -
and provided the rainbow as a reminder of the same, have mercy on the
arrogance of mankind that seeks to exclude the animals from Your
covenant of salvation
Priest: "Lord in Your mercy”
People: 'Hear this our prayer"
Remind us Dear Lord that the supreme analogy of Yourself was in terms
of a past eastern shepherds care and endearment of sheep entrusted to
his care. Then open our eyes that we might see how modern husbandry has
so appallingly wandered from a good shepherd willing to lay down his
life in protection of his flock. Indeed, we think of the appalling evils
of intensive factory farming in which sentient creatures are heinously
exploited in order to temporarily appease carnivorous taste buds. Show
us dear Lord that our Christian profession is shallow indeed, and
utterly false, unless we show compassion and care to weaker and more
vulnerable life than our own
Priest: "Lord in Your mercy”
People: 'Hear this our prayer"
Father we thank You for sending in to this world Your only Son:
Jesus. That in line with Your own character His birth was singled out to
despised animal carers in Bethlehem's fields. That You sent angels
directly to them, to announce the good news of His birth on earth. We
thank You that You chose for Him a stable rather than a palace so that
the first friends His infant eyes would behold were faithful animals: an
ox and an ass at either side of Him; and that His first visitors would
be animal caring shepherds bringing, no doubt, some of their flock with
them
Priest: "Lord in Your mercy”
People: 'Hear this our prayer"
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You that Your life and teaching reflected
Your Father in Heaven. You grew up to identify Your ministry with that
of animal carers. You stated that - unlike a hireling - a good shepherd
would gladly lay down His life in protection of lesser life than one's
own. You said: 'I am the good shepherd and the good shepherd lays down
his life for sheep'. Yes, animals entrusted to his care. Dear Jesus, in
the light of all this we are aghast that animals today are so
horrendously mistreated and that so little pity is shown towards them,
Priest: "Good Shepherd, Lamb of God”
People: 'Have mercy upon them"
Gracious Saviour Your first act of righteous wrath was expressed
through overturning the counters of those who sold animals for ritual
slaughter within the Temple. What is more. You liberated animals in the
process: driving them out of the very place. Then teach us to realize
that unless at times we also manifest a righteous indignation that we
are unworthy to be Your disciples of today. Dear Jesus, grant us in our
dealings a true balance: the ferocity of a lion and the gentleness of a
dove, as was exemplified in Your own earthly ministry
Priest: 'Good Shepherd, Lamb of God'
Peoples response: 'Have mercy upon us’
Accept the imperfections of our prayers and use us to bring about a
moral and spiritual revolution within this lovely land (of Wales). Bless
every animal here this day - and we do not forget for one moment the far
less fortunate animals for whom the heart of every enlightened soul must
surely bleed. For such abused and tortured creatures we ask for boldness
to speak out for them on Your behalf:
Priest: 'Lord have mercy upon them'
People: 'Christ have mercy upon them’
These petitions we offer in our precious Redeemer's name, who taught
us as a church to go out and - knowing that actions speak louder than
words -- proclaim the gospel to every creature under Heaven
AMEN
Animal Padre's
