Prayer Book for the Hurricane & Tornado Seasons


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Prayer Book for the
Hurricane & Tornado Seasons

Litanies, Liturgies & Prayers

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Table of Contents:

I Exhortation and Litany at the Beginning of the Hurricane & Tornado Seasons

II Prayers at the Anticipation of a Hurricane

III Thanksgiving after the Passing of a Hurricane or Tornado
A. At a Shelter or Place of Waiting
B. At the Sunday Liturgy following the Passing of a Hurricane or Tornado

IV Prayers and a Liturgy after a Damaging Hurricane or Tornado
A. Prayers at a Shelter or Place of Waiting
B. A Liturgy of Lament, Prayer and Hope, with Eucharist
for extensive damage in the community and/or loss of a church

V Prayers at the End of the Hurricane & Tornado Seasons
A. Prayer when All Hurricanes & Tornadoes Have Passed without Harm
B. Prayer when a Hurricane or Tornado Has Left a Mark on the Local Community

I. Exhortation and Litany at the
Beginning of the Hurricane & Tornado Seasons

Seasons for Hurricanes and Tornadoes vary among the states. On the Sunday nearest the season’s beginning, the following litany is recommended as a closing rite to the liturgy, after the post communion prayer at the Eucharist, or after the Lord’s Prayer at a service without communion. Solemn blessings for the season follow the litany. This litany may also be used before or in place of the Prayer of the Church, in which case the Solemn Blessings would stand alone at the end of the liturgy and replace the regular Benediction.

P: Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we enter upon a time of vigilance and preparedness with the beginning of the annual hurricane/tornado season, let us humbly bring our prayers to God, the Lord of the wind and the rains, the Lord of good season and bad, the Lord of blessing and hope, that he might bless us with his mighty power and protect us in our ways.

A: Lord God of all seasons, you bless us throughout the year.

C: You are the rain that refreshes the earth.

A: You are the light that shines upon all things.

C: You are the miracle of birth and growth.

A: You are the author of time and its seasons.

C: You set it all in motion for the benefit of all.

A You are the Creator who blesses.

C: You are the Guardian of all that you have created.

A: As we enter upon this season of vigilance, we ask that you watch over us.

C: Keep us alert and watchful in our days.

A: Protect us from all harm.

C: Keep us from devastation.

A: Deepen our faith,

C: That our fears disappear in our trust in you.

A: Bless those public agencies responsible for storm tracking, watches and preparedness.

C: Bless their plans, their practices, their skills, their dedication.

A: And at the time of extreme watchfulness,

C: Increase their skills, their concentration, and our willingness to follow their advice and commands.

A: The eyes of all look to you, O Lord.

C: You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

P: Lord of the universe and the four winds, hear our petitions and supplications on this day. In you alone is our salvation. In you alone do we find our lives safe. As once you were the guide and protection of your people Israel in pillars of wind and fire, so also guide and protect us, your people of today, and keep us in safety and peace all our days; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, belong all honor and glory, now and forever.

C: Amen

Solemn Blessing for the Hurricane/Tornado Season:

P: May the Lord who commands the heavens and the earth keep you steadfast in faith.

C: Amen

P: May the Lord of thunder and wind strengthen you with his mighty power and protect you from all fear and evil.

C: Amen

P: May the Lord of silence and peace be the still small voice of peace in your hearts all your days.

C: Amen

P: And may Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.

C: Amen

II. Prayers at the Anticipation of a Hurricane

The following is written with the expectation that there is no time or opportunity to reproduce prayers in written form. Responses are of the sort that Lutherans and other Christians would automatically know from memory, while others will quickly catch on. Coaching may be used as necessary. If there is such time to reproduce and distribute this form, it is advisable so that people may continue to meditate upon these prayers as their watch continues over many hours. Indeed, these prayers may be led more than once with the same group. The prayers may be used in any setting where people are gathered, regardless of number, whether that setting is in a church or shelter or other safe place. These prayers may also be distributed ahead of time to the entire congregation for individual use as the occasion arises. Accordingly, the parts are marked for use without a pastor being necessary to lead them:

L = Leader and C = Congregation/People gathered

L: At this time of apprehension in the face of the unknown, let us bring our prayers to the Known God of our faith. Please repeat after me:

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: Christ, have mercy.

C: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of peril and apprehension, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of mighty winds, thunderous sounds, strong rains, and surging waves, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of complete uncertainty, as well as concern for our loved ones, here or elsewhere, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: In the face of our own vulnerable mortality, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For the strength that God alone can give us, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For all that it takes to keep our children calm and safe, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For faith that can move mountains and remove all fear, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For trust in God's loving presence in our midst, even at this very hour, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: For trust that in life and in death, God will not abandon us, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: Almighty God, we poor creatures place our lives into your hands that you might protect and guide us according to your will; Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear, our prayer.

L: Do not hold our sins against us, but remember us in our faith and love for you; Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear, our prayer.

L: Be our light in the darkness, our hope in the storm, our peace in the chaos, our trust in the unknown; Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear, our prayer.

L: Mighty are your works, O Lord, and mighty is your saving hand. Turn your ear to our petitions and supplications; Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear, our prayer.

L: God of heaven and earth, God who carries our lives and the lives of our whole community in your hands, be with is in the peril of this day/night. Help us to release our anxieties and fears into those same caring hands, knowing in faith that your will for us is life and everlasting good. Send your holy angels to watch over us and guard us. May they spread their holy wings to give us shelter against the storm. For you alone, O God, are all good, all life, all love, and that love is for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

The Leader addresses the people:

L: God has spoken his holy word of blessing and promise. God will indeed watch over and guide us. Let us repeat God's promise together in our words or in our hearts as we recite the Psalm of the Shepherd:

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures:

he leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul:

he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies:

you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: Christ, have mercy.

C: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: May the Lord + bless us and keep us all our days.

C: Amen

III. Thanksgiving after the Passing of a Hurricane

A. At a Shelter or Place of Waiting

It is assumed here that once a hurricane or tornado has passed without harm, there will be excitement and movement with unknown amounts of time before people may leave their place of waiting. Therefore a short prayer is offered after the announcement that the hurricane has passed.

L: Let us raise our voices in thanksgiving and praise to the God who has protected us through our long vigil. Let us pray. Silence. O Great Protector in the storm, God of Life and Love, with grateful hearts we bring our thanks to you for bringing us safely through this ordeal. In the days ahead as we return to our homes and daily lives, help us to remember your love for us, that we might in turn share that love with others, giving aid and assistance wherever necessary to return our community to life and prosperity once again. You are the Lord of our lives. You are the Lord of all goodness. May our voices and our lives eternally sing thanksgivings and praises to you for all the blessings you bestow upon us and upon our community; to you and your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever.

C: Amen

P: Joyfully and thankfully, let us pray together the prayer of our Lord.

C: Our Father....

B. At the Sunday Liturgy following the Passing of a Hurricane or Tornado

Use the following prayer as an additional Prayer for the Day. Use the Prayer of the Day assigned by the lectionary, then immediately follow it with this additional Prayer for the Day. The Prayer of the Church may contain other petitions of thanksgiving appropriate to each individual situation.

P: Almighty and ever living God, we bring our grateful hearts to you in thanksgiving and praise for bringing us through the peril of a threatening hurricane/tornado this week. Yet we are mindful of those who have suffered injury, damage or loss and ask that you would comfort them with your healing love. Guard as well those who yet remain in harm's way. As we continue through this turbulent season, help us always to place our hope, our fears, and our trust in you, for in you alone is life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

IV. Prayers and a Liturgy after a Damaging Hurricane

A. At a Shelter or Place of Waiting

The following assumes the knowledge that a hurricane or tornado has struck the local community, and that while some, most or all of those gathered may be alright, there is much concern for what damage may be found, what lives may have been lost, when people are finally allowed to depart from the place of waiting and shelter.

L: My dear friends, the storm has passed over our community. All/Most of us are safe, though wearied perhaps by our ordeal. Our concerns now are for what we do not know, what we cannot see, what we cannot help quite yet, except by bringing our prayers to the Lord. Let us do that now, in thanksgiving for our lives and in heartfelt intercession for our community and those we love.

Let us pray. Long Silence. Lord God, the first ordeal has passed, and you have seen fit to spare us with your mighty hand. For this we thank you with all our hearts, our souls, and our minds. Truly we praise you for your saving favor among us.

The next ordeal is still before us, Lord. Our minds are stirring with anxiety and question. What shall we find when we go from this place? What damage will confront us? What losses will we encounter? What strength will be required for us to go forward in our lives?

We know that we cannot face this without you being with us, telling us what matters and what doesn't, whispering in our ears that it will be alright, giving us knowledge that nothing can separate us from your infinite love: neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can ever separate us from your love. And we know that it will be that love that will help us to go on from here.

By faith we have lived through our ordeal. By faith we will survive what lies ahead. O Lord, increase our faith, and teach us to pray:

C: Our Father.....

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: Christ, have mercy.

C: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord, have mercy.

C: Lord, have mercy.

L: May the + Lord watch over our going out and coming in from this time forth and forever more.

C: Amen

B. Liturgy of Lament, Prayer and Hope following a Damaging Hurricane or Tornado

The following liturgy is appropriate for use in the face of losses within a community that may or may not include the destruction of the church building itself. It is written under the assumption that even if a church has been completely destroyed, Christians will nonetheless gather somewhere to mourn their losses, lament the damages, look to God for hope and assistance, and intercede for all in need. The liturgy is a full Eucharist to emphasize Christ's presence among his people in need, and includes a Eucharistic Prayer that is proper for the occasion. While I have tried to include all things that might be of concern in such a situation, I realize that the liturgy may need modification at the discretion of worship leaders to address as specifically as possible the local circumstance of the congregation.

Because of the catastrophic nature of a damaging hurricane or tornado upon the lives of the community of God and the community at large, this Service holds precedence over all days of the Church Year with the exception of Easter and Christmas. If the situation allows, the color of the day may be the color of the current season, or it may be white as a sign of resurrection and hope. When the liturgy falls upon a greater or lesser festival (Pentecost, All Saints', Reformation, Christ the King, etc.) the name of the day may be kept and the proper Prayer of the Day may be used after the Prayer of the Day given below, but the following lessons will hold precedence. References to themes within the festival may be drawn together with the local situation in the homily for the day, as desired. All hymns listed below are advisory, but note their emphasis on God as strength and hope and the Church being more than building. In addition to the chief liturgy of Sunday, this service may be used at any other time and in any place that is deemed appropriate. If the church itself is damaged or destroyed, then an open gathering near that location is recommended, weather and circumstance permitting. Portions in italics within the text are optional and applicable only to the churches that have been damaged or destroyed.

A Liturgy of Lamentation, Prayer and Hope
following a Damaging Hurricane or Tornado

Optional Pre-Service Music (as the circumstance provides)

Exhortation:

P: Brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather before God in silence and deep prayer following the devastation our community has suffered from Hurricane (Name)/the tornado of (Date). To the God of all consolation we bring our tears and our heavy hearts, our prayers and our concerns, as we consider the losses and hardships within our community, within our own lives, and within our own congregation, most especially for the damage to/destruction of our own dear church.

Though the time seems dark and our hearts heavy, it is God who called us out of darkness into the splendor of his light through our baptisms into Christ. It is God who formed us as the Church of Jesus Christ in this place. It is God who blessed us in our ministry to this community and to each other. It is God who calls and sends us still to care for the sick, comfort the mournful, bind up the faint-hearted, and lend help and assistance in godly love to the many needs that surround us. In Christ alone is our hope. In him and through him we find our being, even at this hour.

As the prophet Jeremiah and the children of Israel poured out their lamentations and prayers to God after the destruction of Jerusalem, so also we bring our lamentations and concerns as we pray to the God of our salvation, in the name of the Father, and + of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

Communal Lamentation:

A: The roads to Zion mourn.

C: All her gates are desolate.

A: We remember the precious things from days of old,

C: Even in the day of our affliction.

A: All the people groan as they search for bread.

C: They trade their treasures for food to revive their strength.

A: Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.

C: I am left stunned, faint all the day long.

A: The elders of Zion sit on the ground in silence;

C: They have thrown ashes on their heads and put on sackcloth.

A: For these things I weep.

C: My eyes flow with tears.

A: My children are desolate.

C: For the enemy has prevailed.

A: My soul is bereft of peace:

C: I have forgotten what happiness is.

A: The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!

C: My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me.

A: But this I call to mind,

C: And therefore I have hope.

A: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,

C: His mercies never come to an end.

A: They are new every morning.

C: Great is your faithfulness, O Lord.

A: The Lord is my portion, says my soul.

C: Therefore I will hope in him. from Lamentations 1-3

Hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"

Salutation and Prayer of the Day

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Let us pray. Silence. O God, the strength of all who hope in you, destruction and devastation surround us, and we are left with nothing but our faith in you. Be present with us now and hear our prayers of concern for ourselves, our loved ones, our church and our community. As you returned Jerusalem of old from ashes to splendor, and lives from desolation to rejoicing, so guide us to hear your will and follow your command that this present darkness may be overcome with the power of your light; through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

First Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion -- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

A: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 130 (spoken in unison)

Out of the depths

I cry to you, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with you,

so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,

more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with him is great power to redeem.

It is he who will redeem Israel

from all its iniquities.

Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:1

St Paul writes: But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture--" I believed, and so I spoke"--we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

A: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Hymn: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fifth chapter.

C: Glory to you, O Lord.

P: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day "Built on a Rock."

Apostles' Creed

Exhortation:

P. Brothers and sisters, we have heard the word of God for us, and that word is always a word of hope and blessing. As God raised his Son Jesus Christ from death to life and gave us each a resurrection faith, so also this church and this community can be raised from the ashes of despair to new life in him.

You are the Church, the living members of the Body of Christ. The Church lives in you as you live in Christ. Though ruins lay around us, still we are called to be the Church in this place -- to share the gospel of Christ's love, to preach the word, to administer the sacraments, to forgive sins, to help those in need. As the Holy Spirit has given us gifts to fulfill our calling as the Church in this place, so God calls us now to dream dreams and see visions of a future that is filled with the brightness of God's love in Christ Jesus.

Therefore let us lift our hearts in prayer, in thankfulness for the blessings that still are ours with each new day, and in dedication to the mission that lays before us.

Litany of Thankfulness and Dedication:

A: Almighty God, merciful Lord, although our hearts are heavy because of destruction and loss, especially the loss of our house of prayer, still we gather as you command us and worship you in beauty and holiness.

C: Yours is the power and the glory forever.

A: By your power and glory, we can rejoice even in the midst of our sadness.

C: We can give thanks in all circumstances.

A: For calling us to be the Church of Jesus Christ in this place,