In a traditional translation of the Al Chet prayer we would read: "For the sin we committed…." But the word "chet" in Hebrew is an archery term that means "to miss the mark." As we face the effects of global warming, let's step away from the concept of "sin" and come back to the mark, to the ways that we've all missed it.
For missing the mark by our denial of what's happening...
For missing the mark by collapsing into our fear about what's happening...
For missing the mark by getting lost in our anger about what's happening...
For missing the mark by turning away in grief or shame about what's happening…
For missing the mark by failing to grasp the interconnectivity of all communities and ecosystems, and for our indifference about the impact of our actions and inactions on communities and ecosystems that have been more impacted than us…
For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, help us atone - to be at one with the world again.
For missing the mark by the ways that we misuse gas, electricity, and water…
For missing the mark by purchasing things we do not need…
For missing the mark by making poor food choices and wasting food…
For missing the mark by failing to compost and recycle what we use…
For missing the mark by making purchases without considering the impact of the packaging, of plastic and other toxic materials...
For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, help us atone - to be at one with the world again.
For missing the mark by not getting involved in climate action work in our communities and in the world...
For missing the mark by investing in and by keeping our investments in banks and companies that invest in fossil fuels and other toxic industries...
For missing the mark by not using public transportation whenever possible...
For missing the mark by not supporting lawmakers and legislation that would have made a difference in stopping the heating up of the planet…
For missing the mark by not planting trees and restoring waterways and doing all the things we could have done to bring the world back to the lush, beautiful garden You created and put us in…
For all these, God of pardon, please pardon us, forgive us, and help us learn to be at one with the world again - NOW - while we still have time to heal it, for our children, grandchildren, their descendants, for all of life on planet Earth, and for the Earth itself. Amen.
Check out the RAC-CA's High Holiday and Fall Season Sermon Materials.
