Opening Meditation
To be of the Earth is to know
the restlessness of being a seed
the darkness of being planted
the struggle toward the light
the pain of growth into the light
the joy of bursting and bearing fruit
the love of being food for someone
the scattering of your seeds
the decay of the seasons
the mystery of death and
the miracle of birth.
— John Soos
Earth Prayers
"Few of us are aware that the act of eating can be a powerful statement of commitment to our own well-being, and at the same time the creation of a healthier habitat. Your health, happiness, and the future of life on earth are rarely so much in your own hands as when you sit down to eat."
— John Robbins
Opening Prayer
"Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, we gather with you and with each other in thanks for the everyday miracles sustaining life. Feed us now as we continue our time together, exploring the connections between our faith and food. Amen."
"In 2000 the number of overweight people in the world for the first time matched the number of undernourished people — l.l billion each."
— Marion Nestle
Closing Prayer (Read in unison.)
"Creator God, we offer thanks for health, a gift we often take for granted. Thank you too for the sustaining gifts of this good Earth. We pray for an ever deeper appreciation of those gifts, for a growing appreciation of the beauty around us, for a reverence for all things lovely; that we might see in them a reflection of you. Amen."
