Christie Goode, A Rocha’s VP of Advancement, extends an invitation to join a newly formed prayer initiative on behalf of A Rocha and God’s creation.

Lately I have returned to soaking in my favourite poem. It settles my heart. It reminds me and returns me to my human identity as a steward of creation. It guides me into wonder and praise.

It is a very long poem of 38 stanzas, but here are just three from the early part of the poem:

Of all the creatures both in sea and land
Only to Man thou hast made known thy ways,
And put the pen alone into his hand,
And made him Secretary of thy praise.

Beasts fain would sing; birds ditty to their notes;
Trees would be tuning on their native lute
To thy renown: but all their hands and throats
Are brought to Man, while they are lame and mute.

He that to praise and laud thee doth refrain,
Doth not refrain unto himself alone,
But robs a thousand who would praise thee fain,
And doth commit a world of sin in one.*

As I have settled in to this new role as Vice President of Advancement at A Rocha, I am acutely aware that the organization and the mission of “transforming people and places by sharing God’s love for all of Creation” truly cannot advance without prayer. Whether we acknowledge it or not this is spiritual work – caring for God’s people and God’s places always is.

This work also requires a deep commitment to prayer because an important part of stewarding Creation entails giving back its voice – to praise and to lament on creation’s behalf.

That’s why I’m extending an invitation to be a part of A Rocha’s prayer network. As part of our praying community, I will send you emails approximately six times per year with specific updates of celebration of God’s provision to A Rocha, and some requests for prayer for outstanding needs.

A Rocha Canada email prayer network
Email prayer@arocha.ca to be added to our community of pray-ers, for periodic prayer updates and requests

I’d love to stand with you as we journey together in prayer for A Rocha.

* The poem is called Providence, and it was written by George Herbert, a University of Cambridge Don and the university’s Public Orator, who in 1628 left his prestigious post and became a parish priest. Over the next three years he wrote one of the most outstanding collections of poetry in the English language, before dying of consumption at the age of 39.