Posts Tagged ‘hurricane’

 

After Matthew: Safety after Violent Weather

Posted on: October 7th, 2016 by Alden

img_0709This is a prayer for safety and healing after Hurricane Matthew. Even as the storm moves up the Florida coast, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas have begun the tasks of clean-up, mourning and rebuilding. The perspective is gratitude for survival. It’s difficult to capture in one prayer the range of outcomes and individual experiences from weather events. Here’s a prayer “For the People of Haiti.” For those who have yet to experience the storm, please see “Safety During a Hurricane.” Here’s a prayer “For First Responders” who put thier own lives at risk to save others. Optional language is shown in [brackets].

After Matthew: Safety after Violent Weather
G-d of heaven and earth,
Source of All,
The storm has passed.
Earth, sea and sky are quiet.
The tempest moved on.

Thank you for the kinship of neighbors and friends
As we work together to clean up after violent weather.
Bless those who were injured with healing and recovery.
Bless those who lost family or friends with comfort and hope.
Provide food and clothing, warmth and comfort, to all in need.
Thank you for providing safety and shelter
To my [family][friends][neighbors][parents][children].
Thank you for the emergency and rescue workers
Who kept watch and risked their lives for our community.
As we return to our daily lives,
We pray for the victims of any disaster,
Any violence, suffering or despair.

Blessed are You, our Rock and our Shelter.

© 2016 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: This prayer first appeared here as “After Irene: A Prayer after Violent Weather” on August 27, 2011. Another example of a prayer after violent weather: “After the Tornadoes.” Other weather and disaster related prayers include: “In Devastation (For the People of Haiti),” which I then rewrote as “In Devastation (For the People of New Zealand)” and used as part of a prayer “For Japan.” I used the prayer “For First Responders (to the Earthquake in Haiti)” as the inspiration for a prayer called “Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders.”

Please consider making a contribution to support this site and my writing. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. If you use or like this prayer, please post a link to Facebook, your blog or mention it in a tweet.

Photo Source: WikiMedia Commons, Hurricane Fran 1996

Resources for 9/11

Posted on: September 7th, 2013 by tobendlight

Tribute in LightIndividuals and clergy members continue to look for meaningful prayers and meditations to use to commemorate the attacks of September 11, 2001. Here’s an annotated list of prayers suitable for public and private memorials, including “A Liturgy for 9-11,” written for the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the U.S. Please email this page to anyone who may be in need of a memorial prayer or a prayer for healing.

Memorial Prayers

For Survivors

Prayers for a Better World

The original four prayers in “A Liturgy for 9-11” were written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attack. See that post to read the story of how and why I wrote these prayers. The response to the original post was overwhelming. Here’s a link to an overview of some of the ways these prayers were used as part of 10th commemoration activities.

All of these works are © 2011-2013 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. Connect with To Bend Light on Facebook and on Twitter.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons, the “Tribute in Light” memorial is composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. The photo was taken from Liberty State Park, N.J., on the five-year anniversary of 9/11.

Memorial Prayer for First Responders

Posted on: July 1st, 2013 by tobendlight

fire_smallThis is a memorial prayer for first responders, posted today for the fire fighters who lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill fire. It’s group prayer for those who have lost their lives responding to specific emergencies. It’s modified from “Yizkor for First Responders,” a prayer for individual first responders that I first posted as part of “A Liturgy for 9-11.” I previously posted a specific version of this prayer for 9/11 first responders. For those of you with family and friends who serve in this capacity, here’s a prayer “For First Responders” as they head off into service to others.

Memorial Prayer for First Responders
G-d of the selfless,
G-d of the strong and the brave,
Grant a perfect rest among the souls of the righteous
To those who died in service to others during the
_________________________________________________ [ add name of event such as: the 9/11 attacks, the Mount Carmel fire, the Yarnell fire, etc.].
May their dedication to protecting life serve as a shining lamp of love
And the works of their hands bring us all merit in heaven.
Bless the souls of all who have died to save others,
Civilians and professionals,
The trained and the untrained,
In every age and in every land,
Men and women who answered the call of honor, duty and service.
May their memories be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

© 2011 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here’s a link to “A Liturgy for 9-11” and a prayer “For First Responders” as they head off into service to others.

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. Connect with To Bend Light on Facebook and on Twitter.

Photo Source: NOAA

Safety After Violent Weather (Revised)

Posted on: October 30th, 2012 by tobendlight

This expresses gratitude for those who weather a major storm safely, including a prayer for safety and healing for all who are suffering as the result of the storm. It’s difficult to capture in one prayer the unique experiences of individuals and the range of outcomes from weather events. This version removes references to any particular storm. Optional language is shown in [brackets]. See also this revised version of my prayer “For First Responders,” posted earlier today. It’s rare for me to post more than two prayers per week, let alone two on one day. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, I decided to repost these prayers immediately.

Safety After Violent Weather II
G-d of heaven and earth,
Source of All,
The storm has passed.
Earth, sea and sky are quiet.
The tempest moved on.

Thank you for the kinship of neighbors and friends
As we work together to clean up after violent weather.
Bless those who were injured with healing and recovery.
[Bless those who lost family or friends with comfort and hope.]
Provide food and clothing, warmth and comfort, to all in need.
Thank you for providing safety and shelter
To my [family][friends][neighbors][parents][children].
Thank you for the emergency and rescue workers
Who kept watch and risked their lives for our community.
As we return to our daily lives,
We pray for the victims of any disaster,
Any violence, suffering or despair.

Blessed are You, our Rock and our Shelter.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: My other weather safety prayers include: “In Devastation,” “After the Tornadoes” and “After the Storm.” I used the prayer “For First Responders (to the Earthquake in Haiti)” as the inspiration for a prayer called “Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders.” This prayer was first posted August 27, 2011.

If you use this prayer, please click “like” on this page and subscribe. Please take a moment to post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or mention this prayer in a tweet. Thanks. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

For First Responders (Revised)

Posted on: October 30th, 2012 by tobendlight

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, ambulances and first responders lined up waiting at NYU Medical Center. This is a prayer for first responders as they head into a moment of crisis or destruction. It asks for the physical and emotional safety of these brave professionals and volunteers in the face of the dangers ahead. This new version includes an addition in [brackets] for use by families of first responders, as well as slight modifications in the rhythm.

For First Responders (Revised)
Crisis and chaos,
Confusion and loss,
A scene of sweeping destruction,
The first responders arrive
Among the breathless and dazed,
The incapacitated, the dead,
The weary, the lost, the injured,
The frenzied, driven wild with fear and grief,
And survivors forcing themselves
Beyond their limits
To fight devastation.

Holy One,
[Watch over my father/mother/husband/wife/partner/spouse/son/daughter/brother/sister
As he/she serves our community/country
With dignity and honor.]
Bless our nation’s first responders with endurance
To be of maximum service in this moment of immeasurable need.
Bless their limbs with strength,
Their eyes with courage,
Their hands with gentleness,
So that they become a source of hope and love.
Give them the tools they need in the days and hours ahead.
Protect them from physical harm,
Shield them from emotional pain,
And guard them from taking this trauma into themselves.

G-d of justice and mercy,
May the deeds of the first responders
Find favor in Heaven
And bring healing on earth.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: See also “Yizkor for First Responders” and “Memorial Prayer for 9/11 First Responders.” This prayer is a generalized version of a previous piece called “For First Responders to the Earthquake in Haiti.” Written at the request of the Columbia County Fire Department Auxiliary, Lake City, Fla., for use in their fundraiser cookbook. It was first posted on April 17, 2012.

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. Connect with To Bend Light on Facebook and on Twitter.

Photo Source: NYU Photo/Twitter via London Evening Standard

For First Responders

Posted on: April 17th, 2012 by tobendlight

This is a prayer for first responders as they head into a moment of crisis. It asks for the physical and emotional safety of these brave professionals and volunteers in the face of the dangers ahead.

Addendum, Oct. 30, 2012: See also “For First Responders (Revised).” This new version includes an optional paragraph for families of first responders, as well as slight modifications in the rhythm.

For First Responders
Crisis and chaos,
Confusion and loss,
A scene of sweeping destruction,
The first responders arrive
Among the breathless and dazed,
The frenzied, driven wild with fear and grief,
The incapacitated, the dead,
The weary, the lost, the injured,
And survivors forcing themselves
Beyond their limits
To fight devastation.

G-d whose ways are secret,
Bless these first responders with endurance
To be of maximum service in this moment of immeasurable need.
Bless their limbs with strength,
Their eyes with courage,
Their hands with gentleness,
So that they become a source of hope and love.
Give them the tools they need in the days and hours ahead.
Protect them from physical harm,
Shield them from emotional pain,
And guard them from taking this trauma into themselves.

G-d of justice and mercy,
May the deeds of the first responders
Find favor in Heaven
And bring healing on earth.

© 2011 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: The prayer is a generalized version of a previous piece called “For First Responders to the Earthquake in Haiti.” It was written at the request of the Columbia County Fire Department Auxiliary, Lake City, Fla., for use in their fundraiser cookbook. See also “Yizkor for First Responders” and “Memorial Prayer for 9/11 First Responders.”

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Prayer After Hurricane Irene: Safety After Violent Weather

Posted on: August 27th, 2011 by tobendlight

This is a prayer of gratitude for safety and healing after a major storm. It’s difficult to capture in one prayer the unique experiences of individuals and the range of outcomes from weather events. For those who experienced Hurricane Irene days ago, please excuse the tardiness of this offering. For those who have yet to experience the storm, please see “Safety During a Hurricane.” Optional language is shown in [brackets].

After Irene: Safety After Violent Weather
G-d of heaven and earth,
Source of All,
The storm has passed.
Earth, sea and sky are quiet.
The tempest moved on.

Thank you for the kinship of neighbors and friends
As we work together to clean up after violent weather.
Bless those who were injured with healing and recovery.
[Bless those who lost family or friends with comfort and hope.]
Provide food and clothing, warmth and comfort, to all in need.
Thank you for providing safety and shelter
To my [family][friends][neighbors][parents][children].
Thank you for the emergency and rescue workers
Who kept watch and risked their lives for our community.
As we return to our daily lives,
We pray for the victims of any disaster,
Any violence, suffering or despair.

Blessed are You, our Rock and our Shelter.

© 2011 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Another example of a prayer after violent weather: this spring I wrote “After the Tornadoes.” Other weather and disaster related prayers include: “In Devastation (For the People of Haiti),” which I then rewrote as “In Devastation (For the People of New Zealand)” and used as part of a prayer “For Japan.” I used the prayer “For First Responders (to the Earthquake in Haiti)” as the inspiration for a prayer called “Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders.”

Photo Source: WHSV3 News

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

“Alden has become one of Reform Judaism’s master poet-liturgists…" - Religion News Service, Dec. 23, 2020

“Mesmerizing, spiritual, provocative, and thoughtful, Alden was everything you would want in a guest scholar and teacher.” – Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Congregation Kol Ami, Los Angeles, and Past President, CCAR

"Alden Solovy has become one of the most revered liturgists of the last decade…" - Jewish Post & Opinion, March 29, 2023

“Alden left everyone feeling inspired.” – Cantor Jeri Robins, Shabbat Chair, NewCAJE6