Tsunami Prayer
Shiranee Mills’ Prayer at the January 2, 2005 Service of the Uduvil CSI Church
Shiranee Mills’ Prayer at the January 2, 2005 Service of the Uduvil CSI Church
People are crying Lord in different parts of our dear country. People in the north of our country, people of the south of our country, people in the East of our country, people living close to the sea – the sea which has provided their livelihood, the sea which has brought them happiness and the comfort of the fresh cool air. People are crying Lord, from all parts of the world – because of their loved ones washed away in the tidal wave that has hit the region. Someone’s crying, Lord, for their loved ones swept away in the angry sea. Listen to your people cry, let their cry come unto you. Someone’s crying, Lord, because of the loss brought by the tidal wave – come by here, to our church, to our community, to our village, to our town, to our dear country, to Asia. Someone’s crying Lord, Kum by yah.
Response: Someone’s crying Lord…………….
The swish of the waves, the roar of the sea, the suffocation that takes away the lives of babies so warmly held in their mothers’ arms. The vicious grip of the sea, that tears loving arms away from their dear ones, as they stand helpless watching their loved ones washed away to their death. Their pain is unbearable, we hear their cry – someone’s crying Lord, come by here.
Response: Someone’s crying Lord…………….
The victims who have been subject to devastation, despair, hunger, disease and hopeless fear – all suffering caused by the waves that rose high to catch them by surprise at an unexpected moment in an unexpected way – we hear their pain, we feel their loss, we cry for them, we cry with them – with the people of our country, with the people of Asia. Someone’s crying Lord, come by here.
Response: Someone’s crying Lord…………….
We pray for each person affected in the coastline that skirts our precious island – for those in Galle, for those in Mullaitivu, for those in Hikkaduwa, for those in Point Pedro, for those in Batticaloa, for those in Matara, for those in Hambantota, for those in Mannar, for those in Ampara and those in Trincomalee – we raise our heartfelt cry to you Lord asking you to relieve them of their pain. We remember their cries, we hear them as they call out your name in despair and in deep sadness. Someone’s crying Lord, come by here.
Response: Someone’s crying Lord…………….
For those disturbed and helpless in the aftermath of the tidal wave – through the ruin, the loss of possessions, the poverty, the hunger and above all the fear and the mistrust of the sea. We come before you in humble prayer. Reach down to our country and touch each town, each village and each town that has been hit. Heal the survivors of the tidal wave – for they are crying Lord. Someone’s crying Lord come by here.
Response: Someone’s crying Lord…………….
For those involved in rebuilding and reconstruction. For those who are planning the future of those survivors of this terrible experience – give them wisdom in their planning, foresight in their rebuilding and the sensitivity to feelings that have been crushed. Grant them wisdom in identifying the needs of men, women and children separately taking into account the fact that their needs are different. Help the helpers to hear the inner cries of those whom they go to help. Someone’s crying Lord come by here.
Response: Someone’s crying Lord…………….
For those who offer hope through counseling, for those who deal with trauma that has destroyed their emotions and their lives – we pray that you would give them patience and understanding to lead people to gain their normal lives and living patterns. Lord who walked on the sea to take away Peter’s fear and bring him safely ashore, who offered his comforting words to the disciples who thought they were going to perish with the storm that arose in the sea, Jesus Christ who taught your followers to cast their net in correct places – so that they would get the best catch – you who rule over land and sea, give calm where there is fear and trembling. Forgive us our fear and doubting. Take the dear souls of those who have lost their lives and cherish them in your keeping. Grant them eternal rest. Strengthen all those who are reaching out at another chance of life and continuity offered to them and are moving on in life’s journey. Heal our country and give us lasting peace.
Amen.
Grace Bunker
Grace is a missionary who serves with Jaffna Diocese (Sri Lanka) of the Church of South India. She teaches English at Jaffna College and also works with the Uduvil Girls’ School, where she works in the women’s training programs, which includes teaching English & tutoring women and working with women’s empowerment groups.