Seekling the Shalom (and solar panels) of the City

We held our 4th Eco Prayer meeting on 20th August at Shipley Baptist Church.

Seeking the Shalom of the City

We read Jeremiah's letter to the Jewish exiles in Babylon from Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 1-14 and Peter's letter to the first Christians throughout the Roman empire in 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 11-17.

We said that:

1. Like the Jewish exiles in Babylon, we are exiles too: not in Babylon but in this world.
2. Like the exiles in Babylon we are commanded to seek the prosperity and growth or our city and our country. We should pray for our cities and countries!
3. We need to submit to the authorities in the places where we are, unless they are telling us to do something that is against what God tells us to do.

Some Good News:

The city that closes its streets to cars once a week: read about it here.

An arts group called ROAR is organising an collaborative exhibition in Bradford about the climate crisis which opens soon (will add details here when we have them) 

Pray!

We prayed this prayer by Father Henry Eikhlein:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the wonders of your creation.

Thank you for guiding us, leading us, protecting us, developing us since the beginning of the creation till now.

Make us grow in the awareness of the urgency of safeguarding and developing the wonders of your creations

and take a concrete response to it.

Help us to live and work harmoniously with your creation. 

Protect us from all dangers and destruction.

Amen.

And we prayed for the following things (most taken from the August edition of Pray and Fast for the Climate):

1. Humanitarian work throughout the world (19th August was World Humanitarian Day):
1. All doing humanitarian work: ask God to protect them from danger and give them wisdom to work effectively. 
2. Countries, as a matter of justice and love, to reverse their cuts to development assistance and climate finance.
   
   
2. Growth of Renewable Energy; we thank God for rapid growth in many parts of the world, but we need MORE!
   


3. International Court of Justice Opinion that countries have obligations under international law to act in line with the best scientific evidence to reduce emissions, regulate potentially harmful activities within their jurisdictions, and cooperate with each other in good faith.
1. We thanked God for the courage of persistence of the young people who started this and many others.
2. We prayed for the influence of this opinion to grow and spread.
   
   
4. Bradford to become a carbon negative city.
   
   
5. Leeds tram to actually happen!
   
   
6. Peace in Gaza.
   
   
7. Redemption - save your creatures, God!

Please KEEP PRAYING! Keep these matters on your hearts and keep talking to our Father about them.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 17th September at 7:30pm at Shipley Baptist Church. Yoiu can use this Facebook event to share it with friends.