The following Litany and Prayer were developed by the Reverend William Stokes of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, Florida. Please feel free to use them if you desire.
Litany in Response to a Natural Disaster
Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy upon us.
Holy and Mighty, redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
Holy Immortal One, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, One God
Have mercy upon us.
Remember not, Lord Christ our offenses, neither reward us
according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare your people, whom you have
redeemed by your cross and passion, and by your mercy preserve us forever.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all natural disasters, from hurricanes, fires,
tornados earthquakes, blizzards and floods
Good Lord, deliver us
From all disease and sickness, from famine and violence
Good Lord, deliver us
In all times of sorrow, in all times of joy; in the hour of
death and at the day of judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us
Hear our prayers, O Christ our God
O Christ, hear us.
For the repose of the souls of those who have died in this
disaster that your holy angels may welcome them into Paradise.
O Christ, hear us.
Console all who grieve: those whose loved ones have died,
whose families are torn; whose homes have been destroyed, whose possessions have
been ruined, who are now unemployed.
O Christ, hear us.
Heal those who suffer from injury and illness, emotional
and spiritual distress. Give them hope and encouragement to meet the days ahead.
O Christ, hear us.
Give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty
O Christ, hear us
Give rest to weary and peace to the restless
O Christ, hear us
Give strength to the President of the United States, the
Governors of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana and all others in authority and
leadership; grant them wisdom and power to act in accordance with your will
O Christ, hear us.
Bless the bishops, clergy and people of the Gulf Coast who
strive to do your service in the midst of their own grief and pain. Give them
fortitude to serve as you would serve.
O Christ, hear us.
Grant your people grace to witness to your word, to open
their hearts in love, and to give generously from their abundance, that they may
bring forth the fruits of your Spirit.
O Christ, hear us.
Forgive us Lord, for all negligence and hardheartedness,
for inequities and injustice that have resulted in bitterness and strife, in
injury and death.
O Christ, hear us.
In the midst of incomprehensible loss, grant us eyes that
see, ears that hear and hands that work so that we may discern how you would
have us respond.
O Christ, hear us.
We give you thanks, Lord God for all agencies and
individuals who assist in relief efforts; continue in them the good work you
have begun, through them your presence is made known.
We thank you O, Lord
You are our refuge and strength
Our very present help in trouble
In you Lord is our Hope
And we shall never hope in vain
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely
more than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to him from generation to generation in the
Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever.
A Prayer for the Victims of Katrina
Holy God, source of life, lover of souls, out of the depths we call to you; in the face of incomprehensible anguish and sorrow, we lift the cries of our distress and implore you to show mercy upon those who are suffering from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. We pray for those who have died and for their loved ones who grieve. asking you to hold them in the arms of your love; we pray for those who have been injured in body, mind or spirit and ask you to heal them; we pray for those who are homeless and wandering, for families torn asunder and ask you to shelter them. Strengthen the hands and hearts of those who assist in relief efforts and grant us all firm resolve to stand with our neighbors who are in need, to love them and to offer our generous support of them in this their time of trouble; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen
