In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the United Reformed Church offers this prayer:
God of Compassion,
Sometimes there are no words which can truly reflect what we feel in our hearts.
This is one of those moments.
Yet we cry to you for Jamaica and her people during this time of devastation.
We cry for those who feel bewildered and lost,
whose homes and communities have been decimated,
whose livelihoods have been swept away.
We cry for those anxiously awaiting news of loved ones,
for those who themselves are injured,
and for all who are overwhelmed or traumatised.
God who cares for the least,
We cry for the elderly and the vulnerable,
for Jamaica’s children,
and for all whose existence was already precarious.
God, in whose hands all things are held,
We cry to you to sustain the aid workers,
medical teams,
and those striving to bring emergency relief.
We cry for those in positions of leadership and responsibility,
asking insight and guidance,
that the decisions made in the coming days, and weeks, and months
will be according to your will,
and in the interests of all Jamaica’s people,
now, and into the future.
Merciful God,
We cry to you for all in the aftermath of this disaster,
and for all who will face similar disasters.
We pray your strength to sustain them,
Your peace to enfold them,
Your endless love to foster ever-renewing hope.
And as we pray these few insufficient words,
We ask you to open our eyes,
our minds,
our hearts,
that we may respond with love
through faith in action. Today.
Amen
Image: Aboodi Vesakaran/Unsplash.