A Prayer Litany for the Gulf Oil Spill

This litany comes from the Episcopal diocese of the Central Gulf Coast:

A litany for the Gulf of Mexico in a time of crisis
By the Rev. Albert S. Kennington, Retired

The Officiant and People say responsively

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.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous,

praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

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 you 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.

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 is in heaven,

Lord, hear our prayer.

Mercifully hear us, O Lord our God.

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.

h/t Kendall Harmon’s TitusOneNine blog and the Living Church Magazine

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