Old First Presbyterian Church:
Sharing God’s Love, Welcome, and Justice
On Our Corner, in Our City, And in the World
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Prayer on the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
By the Reverend Kathy Lee-Cornell, PDA Associate for National Disaster Response
Holy and Almighty God,
Draw near to all of us for whom the painful memories of Hurricane Katrina do not feel as if they occurred 20 years ago. We still mourn the thousands of lives lost directly and indirectly from the horrors of this storm. We still mourn the displacement of families and friends, the destruction of our communities and neighborhoods, and the suffering and trauma experienced by too many of your beloved people.
As we remember the failures of our levees, the delay and denial of help and resources, the violence and cruelty that unfolded in those unbearably hot days as floodwaters rose and nightmares gave way to a new dawn, look tenderly upon all the unveiled wounds of our humanity and gather the pieces of our shattered trust in the people and systems that shape our world.
Hear our prayer, O God. Do not forsake us. As the prophet Isaiah proclaims: “You will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Restore within us our care for our neighbors and restore our ability to behold the dignity of all people, particularly those peoples still displaced and in search of refuge and safety today. Repair all that remains unhealed and broken — the realities of poverty, racism, environmental degradation, distrust — and repair all that continues to harm and prevent the restoration of what has been lost and destroyed since Hurricane Katrina.
God of rebirth and God of wholeness, we remember with gratitude the labor of all whose compassion and love were evident in the rebuilding of each damaged home, the plates of shared meals turning once strangers into friends, and the unfolding story of hope rising out of chaos. Holy Spirit, revive us as we commemorate this tragic moment in our lives. Strengthen our commitment to bear witness to those whose lives have been ravaged by disasters, whether it happened 20 years ago or just yesterday. May we accompany one another through our darkest days, just as you accompany us. Restore our faith in the magnitude of your grace and the healing mercy of even our human efforts to repair what has been broken. Allow us to join you in restoring streets with dwellings to reflect your enduring love and abiding spirit.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
For more on Katrina’s aftermath, visit Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s website by clicking here.
Notable Women of Old First: Profiles of Six Women Leaders of the Church
Many thanks to all those who worked on the Notable Women of Old First booklet, especially Parish Associate Erwin Barron. This booklet teaches us about six women leaders at Old First who have served Christ and led the church's ministry in San Francisco, the U.S., and beyond.
To view or even print a copy, simply click here to open a "pdf" version of the booklet. Alternatively, you can contact the church office to have a hardcopy sent to you or some who would be interested by clicking here.
Worship In-Person and On-Line
In-Person: Old First invites you to join us in person at the church at 11:00 am every Sunday.
On-Line Worship at Old First: Old First Presbyterian Church livestreams worship services on both Sundays and holidays. You can view this week’s livestream by clicking here.
For the worship bulletin for this week, click here.
You can also view previous Old First worship services at any time. To visit Old First’s YouTube channel playlist for Sunday worship or previous worship services, click here. Don’t forget to bookmark the address in your browser for easy access.
