Prayers for the Seasons - Summer

Preface for Summer

We give you thanks, O Lord, for summer days,
for waterfalls and waves
that beat on lazy shores,
for the fruit of spring's blossom
and gardens of delight.

We give you thanks for murmuring sound
and brilliant wing,
for all your carnival of living things,
birds, butterflies, and honeybees,
that cannot keep the secret of your art
but wear it in trees
and dandelions and green carpets on the valleys.

We thank you now for laughter and for rest,
for animals and fish and time to play,
for friends and love's embrace.
And for the hope that endless summer
is a hint of our eternal joys.

Lord of our happiness and sorrow's end,
we give you laughter and our praise,
as we join the angels and saints to sing...