Creating God,
we dream of a world where all people live like the days of a vibrant tree:
firmly rooted by ancestors,
providing spaces for children to play and elders to tell stories; and,
bearing good fruits like bananas, mangosteens, durian, and pomelos
for people to enjoy.
We mourn when cries of nature, like the Mindanao earthquake,
violently uproot these dreams.
In solidarity, we pray with those:
who have been displaced
who are vulnerable;
who grieve, weep and mourn; and,
who are injured and in need.
We pray with United Church partners in the Philippines, including ACT Philippines Forum, The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP); and we give thanks for all those in local and international communities who are providing humanitarian assistance.
Together, may we re-plant and re-build until the beauty and bounty of the Mindanao Islands are restored. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Alydia Smith