Chaplains Corner

Lord, at times such as this, when we realize that the ground beneath our feet is not as solid as we had imagined, we plead for your mercy.

As the things we have built burn about us, we know too well how small we truly are on this ever- changing, ever-moving, fragile planet we call home. Yet you have promised never to forget us.

Do not forget us now.

Today, so many people are afraid. They wait in fear and anxiety. They hear the cries of the injured and displaced. They roam the streets in shock at what they see. And they fill the smoky air with wails of grief and the names of the dead and injured.

Comfort them, Lord, in this disaster. Be their rock and safety in their world of chaos, and shelter them under your wings when homes no longer exist.

Embrace in your arms those who died in this tragedy. Console the hearts of those who mourn, and ease the pain of bodies on the brink of death.

Thank You for the courageous women and men who have chosen such difficult and dangerous jobs—police, fire, EMTs and others. Thank You for their sacrifices and service. Thank You for their hard work in training and preparing. Help them to feel the respect and gratitude of their communities. Please keep our first responders safe in every situation. Show Yourself strong on their behalf and be their refuge and fortress in these times of danger.

Pierce, too, our hearts with compassion, we who watch from afar, as the poorest souls in our community find only misery upon misery. Move us to act swiftly this day, to give generously every day, to work for justice always, and to pray unceasingly for those without hope.

And once the fires have ceased, the images of destruction have stopped filling the news, and our thoughts return to life's daily flickers, let us not forget that we are all your children and they, our brothers and sisters. We are all the work of your hands.