Thinking of the people of Texas: shared by Mindy Lou Simmons
God of healing and mercy, we come before you with our hearts filled with grief as we see the devastation in Texas.
We pray that your presence would be felt by those who are grieving, who are injured, who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
We pray for wisdom and safety for those who are responding to the people in need and the many challenges left as this disaster continues to unfold.
We pray for the church, that it may be a witness to your compassion and care for all who suffer.
God, you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. For this we give you thanks and ask that you hear our prayers for the people of Texas.*
We pray that your presence would be felt by those who are grieving, who are injured, who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
We pray for wisdom and safety for those who are responding to the people in need and the many challenges left as this disaster continues to unfold.
We pray for the church, that it may be a witness to your compassion and care for all who suffer.
God, you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. For this we give you thanks and ask that you hear our prayers for the people of Texas.*
We pray specifically for:
- The undocumented men, women and children who may fear getting the help they need in the face of the passage of SB4.
- Those who were already hanging on by a thread financially and now may be missing work and wages that they cannot afford to lose.
- For those who cannot afford the things they need to weather this literal storm.
- For those without family and friends to stay with or who could not to afford to evacuate, that they would find places of rest that are safe and humane.
- For the stories we've heard about the impact on the most marginalized, like the 50 undocumented women and children ICE dropped off at a bus station from a family immigration detention center with no resources and no buses on the way to help them safely evacuate.
- For those without insurance who will have a hard time replacing their losses.
- For the elderly and sick, those who live alone, and those who are already so vulnerable.
- For those in Cancer Alley, and downstream from the oil refineries and the dioxin Superfund site that are underwater and will undoubtedly spread their pollution, affecting people's health and the environment into the future.
- For those who were already homeless and are now facing homelessness.
- For those who are forgotten even from this list or from our minds, but that you know and love deeply. Thank you that you keep watch and are not a God who sleeps nor slumbers!
- The undocumented men, women and children who may fear getting the help they need in the face of the passage of SB4.
- Those who were already hanging on by a thread financially and now may be missing work and wages that they cannot afford to lose.
- For those who cannot afford the things they need to weather this literal storm.
- For those without family and friends to stay with or who could not to afford to evacuate, that they would find places of rest that are safe and humane.
- For the stories we've heard about the impact on the most marginalized, like the 50 undocumented women and children ICE dropped off at a bus station from a family immigration detention center with no resources and no buses on the way to help them safely evacuate.
- For those without insurance who will have a hard time replacing their losses.
- For the elderly and sick, those who live alone, and those who are already so vulnerable.
- For those in Cancer Alley, and downstream from the oil refineries and the dioxin Superfund site that are underwater and will undoubtedly spread their pollution, affecting people's health and the environment into the future.
- For those who were already homeless and are now facing homelessness.
- For those who are forgotten even from this list or from our minds, but that you know and love deeply. Thank you that you keep watch and are not a God who sleeps nor slumbers!
Oh Lord, may we continue to remember and help, even after news of this disaster has left the headlines. May we have eyes to see the help needed, not just for communities that look like our own or belong to our own denominations and the communities they're in, but for all of the people in Texas, especially those already marginalized.
Amen.
*Adopted from a prayer For the People of the Mennonite World Conference for the people of Japan following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.
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