A selection of laments and confessions can be found below. Further resources can be found:

Prayers for the Climate and Ecological Emergency

Navigating Climate Grief: What Does it Mean for Christians (webinar)

Lament

Bless our Lament
Creator God,
Bless the tear we shed for the resources we have squandered.
Bless the sigh we breathe out for the atmosphere.
Bless the head we hang for the creatures lost and exploited.
Bless the hands we wring for the things we have broken and wasted.
Bless us as we lament.
Cradle us as we regret.
Restore us as we start afresh.
Amen

John Polhill

Confessions

For our unwillingness to feel the suffering of others,
and our readiness to live comfortably with injustice.
Forgive us, O God.

For our self-righteousness that denies guilt,
and our self-interest that strangles compassion.
Forgive us, O God.

For our abuse of this planet and our exploitation of its resources.
Forgive us, O God.

For our failings in community and our reticence to become involved. Forgive us, O God.

For the times we were too eager to be better than others,
when we were too rushed to care,
when we were too tired to bother,
when we were too preoccupied to listen,
when we were too quick to act out of motives other than love.
Forgive us, O God.

May God forgive us,
Christ renew us,
and the Spirit enable us to grow in love.
Amen

Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness

God Laid the Earth’s Foundations

When we consider the awesome works of God,
we know we have sinned.
How can a mortal be righteous before you, O God?

You laid the earth’s foundations;
You fixed the limits for the sea;
You give orders to the morning;
You tip over the water jars of the heavens;
You hunt prey for the lioness;
You know where the mountain goat gives birth;
The eagle takes flight by your wisdom.

You can do all things:
No plan of yours can be thwarted.
We have spoken of things we do not understand:
Therefore we repent in dust and ashes.
‘Fear not,’ says the Lord, ‘for I have redeemed you:
I have summoned you by name: you are mine.’

Eleanor Harris

Kyrie Confession

Father God,
you formed us from the dust of the earth and placed us in a garden.
Remind us of our place as your creatures at home in your creation.
Forgive us when we forget our connection to the earth, and our
dependence upon the goodness of your world.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Our Saviour Christ,
you were born into this world, and made your earthly home in Nazareth.
Help us to know and love the people and places where you have set us.
Forgive us when we fail to care for our homes,
our communities, and your creation.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Spirit of God,
you desire to grow in us your fruit of love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol.
Forgive us when our roots are so shallow,
and our hearts so restless, that our lives fail to bear fruit.
Enable us to find our home in you,
and in the places to which you call us.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Confession

When we are unkind to people, and forget they are God’s children,
When we are careless with the beasts, and forget they are God’s creation, When we ill-treat the land, and forget the splendour of God,
Forgive us, O God of love,
and reconcile us to yourself, to one another and to the Creation.

Teach us that the earth and all its fullness is yours,t
he world and all who dwell in it.

Remind us that your Son too enjoyed the fruits of the harvest in Galilee
and joins us now as we celebrate your good gifts together.

Call us again to safeguard the gift of life, now and forever.
Amen

from www.operationnoah.org

Prayers for Forgiveness for Climate Sin

Climate Change is prompted by our sinfulness:
- our greed, gluttony and lust for more
- our pride and arrogance
- our anger, envy and vanity
- our dishonesty and maliciousness
- our indifference and laziness
Creator God, forgive

Climate Change is fed by our failure to accept limits:
- of the Earth’s capacity
- to consumerism and excessive materialism
- to an economy that demands insatiability
- to our crude desires
- to our human aspirations
Saviour God – forgive

Climate Change is enhanced by our falling short of our deeper potential: - to respect all life
- to live compassionately
- to think beyond the short-term
- to seek peace through justice
- to express solidarity with the vulnerable
Inspiring God – forgive

Climate Change is addressed when we actively work to change our economic lifestyles:
- campaigning for fairness and equality
- putting community before self
- sharing resources and cooperating together
- acting to regenerate the Earth
- recognising the deep holiness of life itself

Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God:
In the face of Climate Change
forgive us our wrongdoings;
challenge our apathy;
strengthen our resolve;
inspire us with hope;
and enthuse us with love
to make a world of difference now and for ever.
Amen.

Martyn Goss, May 2016

We Confess: That we have considered the earth to be our own, Believing God gave us dominion and thus absolute control over it.

We affirm: “........ that the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it: For, he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers.” (Psalm 24. 1-2)

We repent:, We know we need to change our understanding of creation, taking our share of responsibility for its care and protection.

We believe: That the spirit, God's recreating power is active in us: and in the world.

Absolution

God creator of all, May humankind be freed from the greed which is destroying the earth: and may your churches be courageous in taking up causes against the forces that threaten life.
Amen