Litany for the Gulf of Mexico

Geranium Farmer Sara Wilson from Christ the King Episcopal Church, Santa Rosa Beach, FL recently forwarded this Litany - used in her church - to Barbara.  This Litany is preceded by a prayer which is comprised of excerpts from Canticle 12 and Psalms 29 and 104.

The oil is still flowing, nearly unrestrained, in the gulf waters.  The pollution and tragedy spread, unrelenting, with each passing minute.  Please use this Litany in your public and private prayer.  Thank you, Sara, for sharing this piece with us all.

Prayer and Litany for the Gulf of Mexico in a Time of Crisis

Let us pray together:

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas and streams,
O whales and all that move in the waters.

All birds of the air, glorify the Lord.
Praise him and highly exalt him forever.

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord,
Praise him and highly exalt him forever.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders;
The Lord is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice.
the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number,
creatures both small and great,

There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan,
which you have made for the sport of it.

You give it to them; they gather it;
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;
and so you renew the face of the earth.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Litany

For the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, that they may be kept pure as you created them.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who work on the waters that they be safe from harm;
for all who have been injured, for all who have died, and for all who mourn.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who support their livelihood and the care of their families and
communities from the harvest of the waters.
Lord,have mercy.

For all who live along these waters and for their livelihood,
provide places of rest and recreation for others.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who explore the depths of the earth, even under the sea,
for the resources of your creation for the common good.
Lord, have mercy.

For all creatures of your making and for the wonderful mysteries of
natural habitats you have willed for them, that they be protected from all dangers.
Lord, have mercy.

For all in authority over us, in the government of our nation, our states, and communities, that they may serve your will for the common good, and no other.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who work to preserve us from the dangers of this present calamity,
that they may be blessed with success and kept safe from all harm.
Lord, have mercy.

For our deliverance from fear, anxiety, and anger.
Lord, have mercy.

For your will to be done on earth as it it in heaven.
Lord, have mercy.

Mercifully, hear us, O Lord our God.
And let our cry come to you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.