Bushfires

Loving God,
our prayers today are where our hearts and minds
have been during last week:
with the victims of the bushfires.

We pray for those who mourn their dead:
families, neighbours, school friends, workmates.
O God, divine friend,
be with them in their desperate sorrow.
Comfort their torn hearts and heal them from nightmare memories.
Let there be joy,
let there be peace,
let there be hope,
let there be love.

We pray for the injured survivors in our hospitals:
those who are severely burnt or disfigured
and those suffering ones who may never recover.
Relieve them from pain and soothe their tortured minds
by your Holy Spirit.
Let there be joy,
let there be peace,
let there be hope,
let there be love.

Gracious Lord, we pray for all who lost their homes:
comfort them as they grieve the loss
of very special personal possessions,
treasured photos or letters,
gifts, heirlooms or mementos
which held a host of precious memories.
Let there be joy,
let there be peace,
let there be hope,
let there be love.

We pray for the firefighters who mourn dead comrades.
Be with them in their distress.
Bless their dedication and courage,
and stir our society to make sure they are provided with the best facilities and safety equipment
for their vocation.
Let there be joy,
let there be peace,
let there be hope,
let there be love.

We pray for all those working for the rehabilitation of the victims:
the government, Red Cross, the church,
telephonists, social workers, pastors,
and a host of friends, neighbours and generous citizens.
Give us the grace to help in ways which will respect human dignity
speed recovery and restore hope.
Let there be joy,
let there be peace,
let there be hope,
let there be love.

These prayers we ask through the one
whose spirit inspires our compassion, Jesus our Lord

Bruce D Prewer, Australian Prayers, 2002