Hymns, Thoughts, and Prayers for Hurricane Victims

From Discipleship Worship Resources Team: Diana Sanchez Bushong, Derek Weber, Cynthia A. Wilson

God of calm amidst the storms, we pray for those who are displaced by the winds and waters of Hurricane Dorian. Give them peace of mind and heart even amid their struggles. Give them a real sense of your Presence through the helping hands of neighbors and friends who will help in concrete ways. And give those who live in areas unaffected by the storms a sense of agape love to reach out to those who are hurting. Let us love without regard to what divides us, as we embrace what makes us one in you. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

• Psalm 32 (UMH 766) “. . . at a time of distress, the rush of great waters shall not reach them.”
• Psalm 46 (UMH 780) “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble . . . though its waters roar and foam, though its mountains tremble with tumult . . .”
• Psalm 124 (UMH 846) “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side . . . then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us, then the raging waters would have gone over us. Blessed be the Lord . . .”

God of tumult and of calm, we pray most earnestly for the devastation wrought against lives in the Caribbean, especially the tragedy in the Bahamas, and on the East Coast of the U.S. as the Hurricane Dorian continues its slow path. We pray for safety for those who have not yet encountered the wrath of climate-driven wind and water, and for those who are observing the destruction already wrought. We pray for those who have been, who are, and who will be responding to this calamity, that their calming presence might bring hope in dark times. And may we all find ways to rally around to bring solace and comfort to the displaced. Hold those most effected by the storm close to your heart, O God of Love, that they might know peace. In the name of Lord of wind and water, Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Whenever the Lord says “Peace!”, there will be PEACE! (paraphrase from Mark 4)

All Sufficient, All Powerful, Ever-Protecting God, You speak, and even unruly winds and disorderly waves obey your voice. You speak and the skies above move into divine order, and the floor beneath the swirling waters align with all of Heaven! So Speak Lord, Command all of your Creation to be in order! And when you do so, There Will Be PEACE!

In this very moment, we believe God, but help our unbelief so that we might tell the world that the Comforter has come, about what you have done! And it is through You, the Jesus of history, our shelter in the time of storm we pray. Ashe’ and Amen!

A Prayer for FIRST RESPONDERS: Rescue, Recovery, Relief (paraphrase from Isaiah 58, 61)

God, our help in ages past, our hope, even when the waters are rising;
You parted the waters of the Red Sea and bid your people to walk on dry land. Do it again God!
Your hand of protection sustained the hands of those who reached out to save others, Do it again God! Those who sought to restore the ruined places, Do it again God!
Those committed to reestablish the devastated lands, Do it again God!
Those who seek to rehabilitate ravaged homes and demolished streets, Do it again God!
We pray this prayer in Your name, for you are the One who is able to keep us from falling, the One who strengthens the hands of compassion, grace and love. Help us never forget to remember how these hands got us through the rising waters.

Native American prayer

Creator of the Universe, Mysterious One, The One Who is Above,

We acknowledge you as the One who commands all of the elements of Mother Earth as you order this Beautiful universe. We come as humble ones, recognizing that we can never understand the cycle of your creative being. You bring these elements of Mother Earth from all four directions. We feel the four winds. From the west, we witness the rain and thunder. From the north, we feel the cleansing winds. From the south, we experience the warmth of the winds. From the east, we are reminded of life that you give to your created beings and Mother Earth. From the east, we experience a new day.

We ask for forgiveness for the manner in which we have treated Mother Earth. We have ignored your command to be the caretakers of your beautiful creation. Like our lives, we have fashioned your creative world to our liking. Forgive us for our greed and desire for our own lives rather than protecting and preserving this most precious resource. We repent of our deeds and ask your forgiveness.

Grandfather, we are told by your Holy Men of the past such as Black Elk that everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The uncontrollable and unpredictable storm is the same as it whirls in a circle threatening your creation.

We pray that we may be wise as we live within the boundaries of your creative world. Help us to make wise decisions for protection from your ordered world. Keep us safe from that which we cannot control. Keep us from harm and help us to know that we are called to be in relationship with Mother Earth and all of humanity. Help us to care and love one another as you love us. All my relations. Amen.

By Rev. David Wilson, Conference Superintendent, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference

Discipleship Resources

The Africana Worship Book for Year C

Litany: God Is Our Refuge – p. 108

One: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Left Side: God is our refuge.
Right Side: God is our strength.
Left Side: God is our help.
Right Side: God is there in times of trouble.
One: Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.
Left Side: We will not fear.
Right Side: Though the earth should change.
Left Side: We will not fear.
Right Side: Though the mountains shake.
One: We will not fear though it waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Left Side: We will not fear.
Right Side: Though the waters roar and foam.
Left Side: We will not fear.
Right Side: Though the mountains tremble.
One: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
Right Side: There is a river.
Left Side: There is a river.
All: Thank God there is a river.

WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE RAGING . . . Song Suggestions for corporate and individual worship.

The Faith We Sing
You are Mine 2218
O Lord Hear My Prayer 2200
Kyrie 2275

Songs of Zion
I Been in the Storm So Long 144
Lord, Help Me to Hold Out 194

Worship & Song
Still 3134
In God Alone 3135
When the Waves are Crushing 3144

Zion Still Sings
Remember Me 158
I Need you to Survive 219
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying 156
Stand By Me 164
There is A Balm 114

United Methodist Hymnal
Great Is Thy Faithfulness 140
It is Well 377
O God Our Help 117
Precious Lord 474

It is Well – Bethel Music
One Thing Remains – Matt Redman