Storm
5 October 2022
Ravages of Hurricane Ian.
You’ve seen the disturbing videos of devastation via all media outlets of people’s homes, businesses, schools . . . and in some cases, lives, destroyed. Let me share two more pictures with you. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Fort Myers Beach, Florida is the ELCA congregation where my parents have worshiped over the years when visiting the sunshine state. Below, you can see the wreckage.
When a furious storm was swamping their boat, the petrified disciples start screaming at Jesus, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?!” (Mark 4.38). Jesus calmed their storm. Amazingly, Jesus uses us in 2022 to calm the storms for our neighbors. To help them not just survive but set sail into the next chapter of their journeys. We, the body of Christ, are blessed to help show that God does indeed care for us deeply, and is with us, both in the storms and sunshine of life.
One difference we make is accomplished in prayer. Like last Sunday, would you join me in praying this prayer written by Herb Brokering, lyricist for some of favorite hymns, like “Earth and All Stars”?
Lord,
be with those who go out after a storm,
picking up the pieces;
those who after the fight look for loved ones among the wounded;
those who after the high wind look for personal belongings strewn shamefully among the public;
those whose trees are uprooted, whose water is polluted, whose fences are broken, and whose hopes are shattered.
Lord,
be with the broken hearted
whose refrigerators are robbed by wind and rain,
whose beds are soaked by storm,
whose picture windows are crushed by hail,
whose rugs are covered by mud, and
whose privacy is invaded by searchlights.
Lord,
be with the flooded, the rained out, the uprooted those who are refugees of fierce weather. Give to them, in these frightened times, such people who can help them pick up pieces and put life back together.
Jesus Christ show us how to begin again; let all ravaged life be made new. Amen
A second way we can show Jesus’ love and help our neighbors set sail again after life storms is to financially resource them. Thanks for using this link to share what you can to empower Lutheran Disaster Relief to offer help and hope. ELCA Hurricane Relief
In Jesus’ boat with you, in storm and sunshine alike,
Pastor Fritz
