For farmers, foresters and fishers, their families
and communities and all who depend on them
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR
PRAYER
For farmers who struggle to make a living, especially tenant
farmers and those who have large amounts of debt to service....
For
those who maintain high standards of animal husbandry, but are undercut by
unfair competition, for livestock hauliers and auctioneers, for vets and
agricultural advisers.....
For those who are seeking, instead of
maximising production, to reduce chemical inputs and adopt eco-friendly
practices...
For farming families under stress, for farm women, for the
Women's Food and Farming Union and its work in promoting locally produced food
and opportunities for diversification....
For support groups - Rural
Stress Information Network, Farmers World Network and
Rural Minds and for
agricultural chaplains....
For foresters, balancing long term
investment and short term economic return, for the development of sustainable
woodland and increased use of coppicing products, for the use of trees and
hedges to improve the micro climate and bio-diversity....
For fishing
communities adapting to massive change, for an end to vicious rivalry within
the
European Community, for wisdom in implementing policies that will sustain and
renew
fish stocks while ensuring the viability of fishing businesses....
For
restraint and fairness in the use of economic power, for discernment and a long
term view in policy and decision, for a love of creation and a high view of
human stewardship....
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER. AMEN.
Jenny Carpenter, (at the time) Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Creator of all living things,
we pray for
vets, veterinary nurses,
zoo keepers, stable lads, RSPCA inspectors
and
others who work with animals.
Help them in their calling to respect creation
amid
the muck and pus.
For those whose love for animals
makes them endure low
pay and long hours,
we ask for dignity.
For those who have to decide
whether
an animal lives or dies,
we ask for peace of mind.
And for
all animal workers,
we ask your blessing.
IMSY