Worship Resources for Natural Disasters

non-sale use only.

Resources for Hurricanes

Litany

O Lord, when the waters rage and foam,

Still the storms and grant us your peace.

When the gift of creation becomes burden,

Still the storms and grant us your peace.

When our fears threaten to overtake us,

Still the storms and grant us your peace.

Speak your word to the wind and to the sea,

Fill us with faith.

Show us your care in the service of others,

Fill us with compassion.

Make the joy of your peace overflow in our lives,

Fill us with hope.

Prayers of Intercession

These petitions may be added to the assembly’s prayers of intercession.

Gracious God, you are our refuge and strength,

a very present help in time of trouble.

In the wake of Hurricane {name} reveal your presence

to those in the Caribbean and the eastern region of our country

so that all may know your healing, hope, and love.

As one community on earth bound together by your grace,

inspire us to pray, serve, and help all those who suffer.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God, you still the storms and are a very present help in trouble.

We pray for all those suffering the effects of Hurricane {name}.

Bring comfort to the afflicted and strength to those who come to their aid.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Worship Resources: In times of need

non-sale use only.

Prayers

Prayers for those in the midst of the storm

Merciful God,

when the storms rage and threaten to overtake us,

awaken our faith to know the power of your peace.

Deliver us from our fear and ease our anxiety.

Help us to endure the time of uncertainty

and give us strength to face the challenges ahead.

Give us the assurance of your presence even in this time

so that we can cling to your promise of hope and life shown to us

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Occasional Services for the Assembly, page 394)

O God,

who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the troubled heart,

bring hope and courage to all

who are affected by this storm as we wait in uncertainty.

Bring assurance that you will be with us in whatever lies ahead.

Give us courage to endure all that we now face,

for you are our refuge and strength.

You are God, and we need you.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

(adapted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Pastoral Care, page 174)

Praying for those suffering from the storm

Loving God,

in the communion of Christ, we are joined with the trials and sufferings of all.

Be with those who endure the wind/rain/flooding/__________ .

Protect those in the path of danger.

Open the pathway of evacuations.

Help loved ones find one another in the chaos.

Provide assistance to those who need help.

Ease the fears of all and make your presence known in the stillness of your peace;

Through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Occasional Services for the Assembly, page 394)

Emergency workers

God of earth and air, water and fire, height and depth,

we pray for those who work in danger,

who rush in to bring hope and help and comfort when others flee to safety,

whose mission is to seek and save, serve and protect,

and whose presence embodies the protection of the Good Shepherd.

Give them caution and concern for one another,

so that in safety they may do what must be done, under your watchful eye.

Support them in their courage and dedication that they may continue to save lives,

Ease pain, and mend the torn fabric of lives and social order;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

non-sale use only.

Prayers after the Storm

Especially for those who were directly impacted by the storms or flooding.

Loving God, we come to you trusting in your mercy

and knowing that your steadfast love endures forever.

Look with mercy on those who are harmed or displaced

by flood waters / wind and water / __________.

Give them your strength to meet the days ahead,

your peace, which surpasses all understanding,

and renewed hope for restoration and rebuilding.

Move in those who are able to give aid,

that we may be your hands and heart on earth.

Be with all who offer assistance; may your Spirit may uphold them.

As you have made water a sign of your kingdom, and of cleansing and rebirth,

grant your people vision to see new life on the other side of disaster.

To you be given all honor and praise,

through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Occasional Services for the Assembly, page 395)

Merciful God,

Hear our cry for mercy in the wake of wind and water.

Reveal your presence in the midst of our suffering.

Help us to trust in your promises of hope and life

so that desperation and grief will not overtake us.

Come quickly to our aid that we may know peace and joy again.

Strengthen us in this time of trial

with assurance of hope we know in the death and resurrection

of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Occasional Services for the Assembly, page 394)

Especially for those in areas that were not directly impacted by the storms or flooding.

Gracious God,

Your word of peace stills the storms that rage in our world.

Bring hope to places that know devastation in the calm after the storm.

Bring comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones and property.

Let your love be known through those who work to bring order in the chaos.

Help us to shoulder the burden of suffering

And make us bearers of the hope that can be found in you

Through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Occasional Services for the Assembly, page 394)

non-sale use only.

Scripture Readings

Psalm 30 Weeping spends the night, joy comes in the morning

Psalm 42:1-3 My Soul Thirsts for the living God

Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength

Psalm 77 Seek the Lord in the day of trouble

Psalm 91 The shelter of the Most High

Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills

Isaiah 41:9b-10 Fear not, I am with you

Lamentations 1:1-3 The city weeps bitterly

Lamentations 3:55-58 I call on your name from the depths

Matthew 6:25-34 Do not be anxious

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus stills a storm

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Ephesians 2:13-22 Christ is our peace

2 Thessalonians 3:3 The Lord is faithful and will guard you

Hymns and Songs

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship

TFF = This Far by Faith

LCC = Libro de Liturgia y Cántico

Alzo a los montes mis ojos LLC 546

By Gracious Powers ELW 626

Calm to the Waves ELW 794

Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove ELW 404

Día en día Cristo está conmigo LLC 533

Dios es nuestro amparo LLC 553

Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer ELW 618

How Long, O God ELW 698

In Deepest Night ELW 699

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me ELW 755

Like a Ship that’s tossed and Driven TFF 251

Lord, take my hand and lead me ELW 767

Maestro, se encrespan las aguas LLC 554

My Hope Is Built on Nothing less ELW 596, 597; TFF 192

O Spirit of Life ELW 405

Once We Sang and Danced ELW 701

Precious Lord, Take My Hand ELW 773; TFF 193

Pues si vivimos (When We Are Living) ELW 639; LLC 462

Tú Señor, eres mi fuerza LLC 545

We Are Often Tossed and Driven TFF 206

When Peace Like a River ELW 785; TFF 194

When the Storms of Life are Raging TFF 198

Will Your Anchor Hold TFF 255

You, Dear Lord ELW 702

Additional hymns may be found in the LAMENT, HEALING, and HOPE, ASSURANCE, PRAYER

sections of the worship resources listed above..