For the People of Haiti

Here are some prayers I have found, after searching on the internet. I have altered some of these.


From Worship Concord, this is an alteration of a prayer found in the LSB:

Almighty God, merciful Father, Your thoughts are not our thoughts, Your ways are not our ways. In Your wisdom You have permitted this disastrous earthquake to befall the people of Haiti. We implore You, let not the hearts of Your people despair nor our faith fail us, but sustain and comfort us. Direct all efforts to attend the injured, console the bereaved, and protect the helpless. Bring hope and healing that we may find relief and restoration; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

From the Lutheran Church of Australia, here are two prayers I have altered.


Gracious heavenly Father, there is shock and sorrow across the world at the loss of the life and the devastating effect of the recent earthquake. We struggle in the face of such calamity and cry out to You for Your comfort for those whose lives are now changed and who suffer so much. Mercifully embrace those who are frightened. Look with love and compassion on those who mourn. Restrain those who seek to instigate more destruction. In Your grace, turn tragedy into triumph through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord. Amen.


Merciful Father, we commend to Your protection all those who work to bring relief to the earthquake victims. Give those who come to the rescue of others courage in danger and skill in difficult situations. Give them strength of body and clear minds that they may work most effectively in the service of those in need. Give us all compassion and a will to help restore devastated communities; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord. Amen.


From the ELCA, slightly altered:


Merciful God,
Hear our cry for mercy in the wake of the earthquake.
Reveal Your presence in the midst of suffering.
Help us all to trust in Your promises of Hope and Life
so that desperation and grief will not overtake us.
Come quickly to the aid of Haitians, that they may know Your peace and joy.
Strengthen them in this time of trial
with the assurance of Hope in the death and resurrection
of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.



Gracious God,
Your word stills the storms that rage in our world.
Bring Hope to places that know devastation in the calm after the earthquake.
Bring comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones and property.
Let Your Love be known through those who work to bring order in the chaos.
Help us all to shoulder the burden of suffering
and make us bearers of the Hope that can be found in You
through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Loving God,
Be with those who endure the effects of the earthquake in Haiti.
Protect those in the path of danger.
Open the pathway of evacuations.
Help loved ones find each another in the chaos.
Provide assistance to those who need help.
Ease the fears of all and make Your presence known in the stillness of Your Peace;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

From North Tasmania Lutheran Parish, slightly altered:

Gracious heavenly Father, 
Shock and sorrow is dominating our lives. Bring Your hope among us and among the people of Haiti. Help us as we ponder the loss of lives and property as a result of the earthquake. Bring comfort to those whose lives have altered so much in the last week and who suffer greatly. Mercifully embrace those who are frightened. Look with love and compassion on those who mourn. And give strength to all who offer care, support and rescue efforts during this time. Help us and all others be Your healing hands and comforting arms during this time. So that all in need may experience Your compassion, grace and mercy. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen 

(Based on Romans 8)

We know that You are is a compassionate God, a God for us, and that nothing can successfully be against us? You gave up Your own Son for all of us. Therefore neither troubles nor problems, sufferings nor hunger, nakedness nor danger, nor even violent death can separate us from Your Love. In all these things we are completely victorious through You. We are confident that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, Nothing now nor in the future, nor anything in the whole wide world is able to separate us from Your Love that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. In His Name we pray. Amen.

From the African Methodist/Episcopal Church, slightly altered:

Lord, we acknowledge that You are here, that You never leave us, even when all around us seemed to be falling apart. We are overcome by grief as we see the images of tragedy, hear cries for help, and feel the pain of others’ suffering. Give ear, O Lord to the cries from our hearts and bring light to darkness, joy to sorrow, healing to pain. Give us strength and courage to do what pleases You, that we can put Your love in action, by word and deed and make Your presence known, that others may come to know Your redeeming Love and put their trust in You. We ask this in the Name of Him who suffered for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.

Finally, this hymn was written by Paul Mittermaier and has been altered a time or two. Here's mine for Haiti:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
The earthquake's fury has been grave,
We've seen the pictures, felt the grief,
Of Haitians needing Your relief.
O hear us as we cry to Thee
For those engulfed in tragedy.

O Saviour, Whose almighty hand
Protects all those in ev'ry land.
Send help and aid of ev'ry kind
Grant we a way to serve may find.
O hear us as we cry to Thee:
May Hope rise out of tragedy.

O Holy Spirit, work Your art
in ev'ry place and ev'ry heart.
Stir great compassion, healing, love
Pour down Your blessings from above.
O hear us as we cry to Thee:
May Hope rise out of tragedy.

O Trinity of love and power,
Bless all Your servants in this hour.
To bring relief, to find a way
To rebuild and to heal today.
O hear us as we cry to Thee:
May Hope rise out of tragedy!

Tune: Melita 88 88 88
copyright 2005 Paul Mittermaier, alt. MDS, 2010.