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I have always loved this prayer by the Rev. Jeremy Davies – at least, I assume he is the author.

The prayer is part of a recording of Evensong from Salisbury Cathedral called King of Glory on the Griffin label from 2003. Davies is the precentor for the service on the recording.

I loved this prayer so much, and I listened to the CD so often that I used to have this prayer memorized. I know that I wrote it down at one point, but I couldn't find it today. So, I pulled out the CD to have a listen.

Thank you God for this beautiful world
and for all the good things around us:

for all we have and all we are,
for health and intelligence,
for food and warmth,
for rain and sunshine,
for the beauty of the earth:
the mystery of the mountains, the immensity of the sea
for food, home and family, and friends;
for parents and teachers,
for skills and hobbies,
and things that make us laugh.

Forgive us that we take these things so much for granted
and grasp them as our own.

Forgive our selfishness and greed,
and help us to remember, with practical generosity,
those who do not have the advantages we enjoy;

for you are the giver of all good things,
and we are made in your likeness,
our God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The rest of the disc is certainly worth hearing too. It's a pristinely sung, beautifully recorded service of Evensong in a great cathedral. This is one of those discs where it all just comes together, in no small part due to the Rev. Jeremy Davies.

Labels: Evensong, Jeremy Davies, prayer