God of us all, we come to you for comfort. We are beyond weary of the one-two punch of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded by subfreezing temperatures and the loss of food, water and heat. And, we are grateful to you that this storm has passed, that sunshine and rising temperatures have returned. Thank you for the helpers during this time: volunteers, friends and strangers who have sheltered and fed us, and who have repaired and restored our communities.
We confess the role that greed, graft and hubris have played in creating this “perfect storm.” We confess our anger at officials and corporations that have let us down. We confess that we are weary — and yet we know that you promise us sustenance and rest. Thank you for loving us, for listening to us, and for comforting us.
As recovery begins, help us reach out to others in need. Help us take the steps necessary, at macro levels and at micro levels, to mitigate situations like this in the future. Show us how to love our neighbors – the ones who share our cities as well as our climate and our planet – as we love ourselves. And may all that we say and do reflect our love for you, above all and in all things. For it is in the name of your son Jesus that we pray this day: Amen.
by Sallie Watson, general presbyter of Mission Presbytery
