Lord, we lift before you your wonderful creation, this earth and all its resources.

We thank you for its magnificent beauty and diversity.

Lord, we ask for your help and guidance, so that the people of the earth may meet their responsibility to care.

Help each of us to make small changes that we can manage, so that together these small changes will make a big difference.

We ask for your guiding spirit to fall upon those who are in positions of power and authority, those who can make the bigger changes to drive forward real difference.

When there are storms around us, help us to look for the rainbow, to look for your promise, to remember that the rainbow holds the promise of your covenant forever.

Red is the colour of bravery: we pray for or think about those people who are having to be brave at the moment

Orange is the colour of waiting:  we pray or think about waiting and having to be patient

Yellow is the colour of sunshine: we are thankful for the good things in our lives

Green is the colour of growth: we pray or think about the people who are growing and producing our food

Blue is a peaceful colour: we pray for or think about people who are anxious at this time, that they would find peace

Indigo is a sad colour: we pray for or think about those who are sad or lonely

Violet is a royal colour, the colour of leaders: we pray for or think about the people in our government, that they will make wise decisions. We pray that decisions reached at the General Assembly last week help the Church move forward and grow in a spirit of consideration and respect.

Father of love and hope, we bring before you those in despair and darkness. We pray that they may see the hope of the rainbow and feel the love of Christ around them. Hear us as we pray for:

Mary, Peter, Cath, Hendrik, Malcolm’s family

David, Leona, Margaret, Jane

Ged, Murdo, Joy, Neil’s family

Jess, Mary, Leigh, Jane M

Eric, Catherine, and the Wexelstein family,

Irene, Raphael and family, Deirdre and David

Be with all who need You

Bring hope and new beginnings, through the power of the Holy Spirit

And may all the colourful blessings of the God of the Rainbow be upon us all and upon those we love, now and always,

Amen.