Finding God: Following Jesus Unit 5 Faith in Action Prayer Service
Leader’s Guide
(Note: text in blue appears only in the Leader’s Guide)
Focus: Care for God’s Creation
Preparation
Incorporate elements of the young people’s Faith in Action project into the prayer service.
Have the young people bring in natural objects (e.g., pine cone, river water, nest) that are especially
meaningful to them.
Hold the prayer service outside if possible.
Song
“Let All Creation Sing Alleluia!” by Paul Tate, Let All Creation Sing! track 2 (OCP)
Suggestion: Use this song or another of your choosing for the opening of the prayer service. For
additional music selections for Unit 5, see page 463 of the Catechist Guide.
Invitation to Prayer
Leader:
O God, come to our assistance.
Response: O Lord, make haste to help us.
Leader:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Response: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Leader:
Creator of all things, your goodness is reflected in all that you have created. Be with us now
as we celebrate your creation. Help us grow in our ability to care for one another and for the
whole earth community—people of all nations; all creatures great and small; the land, sky,
and sea.
Response: Amen.
Reading
Suggestion: Genesis 1:1–25
Reader:
The Word of the Lord
Response:
Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Leader:
Let’s take a few moments of silence to allow God’s Word to settle deep within us. (Pause)
Suggestion: You may wish to say a few words about the Scripture reading and connect it to the
young people’s experience of their outreach project.
Each of us brought an object from nature that is especially meaningful. Take some time to
examine the object, turn it around in your hands, feel the different textures. (Pause.)
Think about the sacredness of the object you are holding. (Pause.)
Describe the object you brought and its importance to you.
Suggestion: Let the young people talk in any order. Encourage them to listen respectfully to each
person’s story. Be sure that everyone has the opportunity to talk about his or her natural object.
Intercessions
Leader:
Let us bring our prayer before God and one another. I invite you to name the things in
creation for which you are grateful and the people with whom you’ve worked on this project.
After each person has spoken, we will respond, “We thank you, God, for the beauty of the
earth and all its creatures.”
Suggestion: You may wish to offer the first prayer, which can serve as an example for the young
people.
Response: We thank you, God, for the beauty of the earth and all its creatures.
Leader:
For what else shall we pray? (Allow time for any other prayers.)
Suggestion: You may wish to model a petition such as “Let us pray for environmentalists, park
rangers, veterinarians, naturalists, botanists, geologists, and all those whose job it is to care for
the earth and its creatures. We pray to the Lord.”
Closing Prayer
Leader:
Creator God, you give us the gift of great beauty in nature. Thank you for your Holy Spirit,
who guides us and helps us find you in all creation. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the
needs of the earth community and a willing heart to care for all creation.
Response: Amen.
Leader:
Let us bless the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Song
Suggestion: Use the opening song or another of your choosing for the closing of the prayer
service. For additional music selections for Unit 5, see page 463 of the Catechist Guide.