12th November 2026

Eight months into the war between the US and Iran, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes has become the centre of a growing environmental disaster.  The Strait of Hormuz is a rich but fragile marine environment including coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows that support a wealth of marine life. The circulation of water and nutrients provides a migration route for marine mammals. Since the war began on 28 February, environmental lobby group, Greenpeace, has identified more than 500 instances of oil spills through satellite monitoring across the Gulf, the strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, include major spills linked to attacks on shipping. Aggregating all spillages a cumulative total of approximately 20,000 square kilometres has been covered in oil, roughly equivalent to two thirds of the whole of Armenia.  Oil pollution has reached several coastlines threatening  protected coral reefs, seabirds, turtle nesting sites and fishing grounds. The oil can remain trapped in sediments, shorelines and mangrove roots long after slicks disappear, damaging marine food chains and threatening the economies of coastal communities dependent on fishing. 

Creator of all life, we come to you with heavy hearts, grieving not only for the loss of human life in times of war, but also for the wounds inflicted upon your creation. We are concerned for the environmental impact of the war in the Middle East and the damage to mangrove swamps, coral reefs, beaches, and marine wildlife.  Forgive us that in our hast to kill maim, and destroy, we ignore the impact on the earth, its oceans, and life.  Forgive us that we give no thought for creation nor its creator. May your Holy Spirit inspire us to be stewards of both peace and creation. May your Holy Spirit teach us to treasure the natural world and cherish all life forms upon the planet.  Turn the hearts of leaders and nations, so that weapons may be laid down and the earth enabled to breathe again.   May future generations inherit and enjoy a world where life flourishes, and where the beauty of your handiwork is preserved, where the oceans are not polluted and dead. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.  

An informative map of the oil slicks around the Gulf region can be found here.

William is 17 years old. He disappeared last Friday while on a camping trip with a friend in bushland about 180km (112 miles) east of Melbourne, Australia. William was wearing only shorts and work boots and did not have a cell phone with him. When he did not return, his companion notified the authorities. A large-scale search operation involving more than 100 personnel, search dogs, and helicopters began.  William experienced extremely cold overnight temperatures that had the authorities concerned for his welfare. William was found on Friday morning, winched to safety and then reunited with his family after being away for a week. William had fallen down a slope and was subsequently unable to move properly. He therefore remained in the same spot and waited for help, surviving on a bag of chips and water from the creek.  

Loving God, as the sun rises

so your light shines upon us through another day.

We thank you for your constant companionship,

and that the Holy Spirit lives within your faithful people.

We praise you for guiding us and supporting us

through the challenges of life.

We thank you for reassuring us through our fears.

We thank you for holding us up

when the burdens we carry weigh us down

and for sharing the weight of those burdens with us.

We thank you for giving us resilience

when the pressures of life seem too great.

We thank you for the light of your Word

that brightens our day.

Praise and honour and glory and power

be to you pour heavenly Father.  Amen.