five years on

Feb 22, 2016

Today, February 22, marks five years since the devastating 2011 earthquake which brought tragic loss of life to our city. Five years on we continue the long and difficult process of rebuilding our lives and livelihoods.

On the first anniversary of the earthquake in 2012 tens of thousands of us gathered in Hagley Park for a memorial service. On that occasion, Bishop Barry Jones led us in prayer. Today as we mark the fifth anniversary, let us pray this prayer for all those who continue to suffer the effects of this tragedy. As Bishop Barry leads us in prayer let us continue to pray that he now shares the fulness of life for which God created him.

 

O God whose mercies are without number,
and whose treasure and goodness is infinite,
graciously increase the faith of your people
that all may grasp and rightly understand
by whose love they have been created.

Your Son Jesus has taught us
to open our hearts to you in sincere prayer,
today after [five years],
we commend to your love and mercy
all those whose lives have been changed forever
by the earthquake of 22 February 2011.

We commend to your mercy
those who lost their lives in that terrible time.


We remember too,
those who were evacuated in great stress
from city rest homes
and who have since departed this life
Grieving and distraught families,
friends and workmates
entered thereby into a time of sadness,
loneliness and heartbreak.

Have mercy on them all O God.


We commend also to you those living survivors
who bear wounds and scars and injuries
both visible and invisible
from the earthquakes
which have continued to oppress us.

May their trust and confidence in you never fail,
but rather grow to be strong and life-giving
for themselves and for those close to them.

Your Son Jesus
showed himself to be the physician of souls.

May those burdened by fear, anxiety,
worry and hopelessness,
know your healing hand.


Many of our people Lord carry painful memories
of building and structures falling,
and persons being crushed and trapped.
Have mercy on them and grant them peace.
We pray in Jesus’ name

Amen

Read more at stuff.co.nz

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

so simple

so simple

So simple that children who naturally and naively live with open eyes and ears get it, when we adults too often miss the point.

mountains & roofs

mountains & roofs

. The prevailing sense in the Old Testament was that God lived in the heavens (above). Therefore mountain-tops (where heaven and earth seem to intersect) were a logical place of encounter with the divine. We see this in Moses, the holy Old Testament leader of people,...

opportunity knocks

opportunity knocks

I find it very helpful to hear Jesus speaking directly to me, not as a fearsome threat but as an invitation to not miss the divine presence in the midst of the routines and demands, the ups and downs of my daily life.

the gardener

the gardener

The question surprised me and the look in the young boy’s eyes let me know that he wanted more than a religious-cliche-response. I took a moment to think, pray, and think again and was surprised at the answer that came to me.

in the field

in the field

Such wise people have reflected on their life experience enough to know that while a peaceful and perfect day is welcome, we are most connected with others and therefore with God (we could also say most connected with God and therefore with others), when we live a struggle together.