Prayers for the Nepal earthquake

Lord Jesus Christ,
who was buried in earth
and who rose again to newness of life,
after the quake
and for the sake of the people of Nepal
we cry to you.

We grieve for those lost in death,
we long for those who may yet be saved,
and we pray for all who need water, food and shelter.

From death and dust, may life yet come forth.
In sorrow and suffering, may hope dawn.
And may courage and love
conquer despair.

In your name,
we pray.

1 John 4: 7-21

The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (vs. 21)

What if they were our familiar streets, Lord?
The pavements we walked down every day, cracked.
The roads we commuted on by bus or car, broken.
The underground or subway we travelled on, crushed.
The buildings we worked in, shopped in, worshipped in, crumpled.
The homes we lived in, cried in, loved in, laughed in, shattered.

God, it is hard for us to imagine,
to connect with these scenes of devastation,
but we see our brothers and sisters,
our shared humanity, suffering,
and we long for their rescue,
for their relief and recovery,
we long for their trauma to be healed
for their grief to be comforted and
for their future to be restored.

Take these gifts that we offer
And bless them and the agencies working in Nepal.
Through them may you walk among them,
repair roads,
restore communications,
rebuild communities and livelihoods, and
reveal your love.

In the name of the one who first loved us,

Resurrected Lord,
we pray for all affected by the earthquake in Nepal:
for those grieving the loss of loved ones,
for those living in fear of aftershocks,
for those trapped awaiting rescue,
and for those who are searching.
Comfort, protect, rescue and strengthen.

We pray for all who are responding on the ground:
for partner agencies coordinating the response,
for those in need of shelter, clothing, food and water,
for those in remote rural areas whose plight is yet unknown,
and for those who are travelling to and within Nepal.
Direct, provide, connect and guide.

We pray for the world as it watches on:
for the media as it tells the full story,
for compassion to overcome despair,
for unity to overcome distance,
and for kindness to prevail.
Inspire, move, unite and reveal.

In your resurrection hope we pray,

1 John 4: 7-21 and John 15: 1-8

God who is love,

we pray for those in Nepal who have lost their homes,
may they find shelter and the materials to rebuild.
May your love abide.

We pray for those who remain cut off in remote areas,
may they be reached soon and their immediate needs met.
May your love abide.

We pray for all whose livelihoods have been destroyed,
may they find new sources of income and the way ahead.
May your love abide.

We pray for all who have slept outside every night this week,
may the aftershocks and fear subside.
May your love abide.

We pray for those who cannot sleep,
may their trauma be healed.
May your love abide.

We pray for those who have spent this week digging through rubble,
and for those who have been trapped awaiting rescue.
May your love abide.

We pray for those who have to make decisions on the ground,
may the response of agencies be joined up and well co-ordinated.
May your love abide.

We pray for the people of Nepal who have survived,
for those whose lives will never be the same again.
May the love of God be present
through all who give,
through all who bring immediate relief and
through all who will journey with them for the weeks, months and years ahead.

God of love,
may your love abide.

Lord,
It has been a week of tears,
of aftershocks and sadness.
A week of listening and searching
in dust and rubble.
A week of fading hope
and growing totals.
We pray for Nepal,
a nation in grief,
may your comfort be close.

Lord, who is our shepherd,
we pray for the people of Nepal in this time of want.
Guide those who grieve to still waters; restore their soul.
Lead those who are searching to the right places.
Comfort those who are trapped in the darkest valley of fear.
May generosity and compassion overflow in response
so that goodness and mercy may follow all
who will live in the shadow of this earthquake.
May they dwell in secure houses and
know healing and protection all their life long.