Prayer for those affected by the bush fires

Prayer for those affected by the bush fires

The Moderator, Rev. Simon Hansford, has prepared the following prayer for those affected by the bush fires. Please feel free to use this prayer in church services and for personal reflection.

God of life and death,
our prayers today are where our hearts and minds
have been during these last days
and where they have so often been this season;
with those whose lives have been touched
in differing ways by the bushfires.

We pray for all those who have been affected;
and we give thanks that no one has been killed.
We pray for those who have been injured and survived:
for physical and emotional trauma;
for the fear and helplessness experienced;
for the anger and frustration at the injustice
of unavoidable disaster;

Leader:  Let there be peace

People: Let there be hope

Together: Let there be life

We pray for those who have lost their home and property
or are facing such loss:
for those who have been forced to leave
their memories and belongings;
for the fear & disorientation of all involved;
Heal them from their nightmare memories.

L:  Let there be peace

P:   Let there be hope

T:   Let there be life

We pray for all involved in fighting the fire:
for our  Rural Fire Service and their leadership
and all those we know and those we do not know;
we pray for courage in a place of fear;
for new strength in the face of exhaustion;
for people who have travelled distances
in order to resource those who experience fatigue;

L: Let there be peace

P: Let there be hope

T: Let there be life

We pray for all who offer support and care at this time:
for the various agencies, churches and community groups;
for disaster response chaplains;
for government services as they are activated;
for friends and neighbours, known and unknown;
for aiding recovery and providing a shoulder to cry on;
we give thanks too,
for the generosity of many, in small and large ways,
to those who are struggling.

L: Let there be peace

P: Let there be hope

T: Let there be life

We are mindful of the days, weeks and months ahead,
For many dangerous days yet to come,
for seasons of recovery and rebuilding,
of homes, farms, lives and communities;
we pray for strength, courage, patience and hope
as grieving continues,
as frustrations rise
and the inevitable new changes occur.

L: Let there be peace

P: Let there be hope

T: Let there be life

Keep us faithful and alert in our praying and our action.

Amen.

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2 thoughts on “Prayer for those affected by the bush fires”

  1. Thank you for this prayer, I have adapted it for radio use as we pray for those who have suffered during the wildfires here in Oregon, and the west coast of America. May the Lord bless every effort you make on his behalf.

  2. This was prepared after the fires in April 2018. Sadly, the note of thanks that there’s been no loss of life couldn’t have been included in an updated version after the summer of 19-20. Yet the thrust of the prayer is relevant and good to be reminded of it again.

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