Breathe

                                               Primroses in the churchyard

We listen this morning to the sound of our own breath,

Thank you God for breath,

for life flowing in and out of each of us.

It is wonderful to be alive—thank you for life!

Thank you for the sweet scent of the breath of spring;

for blossoms,

for daffodils and sweet hyacinths,

for the good earth, turned over and ready for seed,

for the sun and its power.

Thank you that you are a God who hears our breath.

You hear our slow steady breaths as we’ve slept,

the panting of children as they run and play,

the deep breaths of hard work and manual labour,

our slow sighs when we are weary or filled with grief.

You hear our first breath,

you are the one who hears and knows our final breath.

Your Spirit moves over the earth, enlivening us all.

Help us to exhale fear, and inhale your love

Help us to exhale selfishness, and inhale your generosity.

Help us to exhale despair, and inhale your hope.

Breathe life into peacemakers,

in the conflicts in our world,

where class and race and ideology divide us.

Breathe life into peacemakers in Syria

where war has ruled now for ten long years, for Afghanistan, Yemen and Myanmar, 

Breathe inspiration into our government leaders and health leaders,

helping them work for safe solutions in this pandemic.

Forgive us when we are not outraged by war and injustice,

and instead are numb to every new story of destruction.

On this day as your Spirit blows ,

thank you for giving us this chance

to be part of your breathtaking work,

in the service of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

Peregrine falcons on our church tower