For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea…Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
–Psalm 107:25, 28-29
Dear Friends,
As I write this on Thursday morning, our local community is preparing for Hurricane Isaias. By now, we have heard the news reports, monitored the “spaghetti maps,” and heeded the public service warnings. Much of the information that we receive is consistent. How we interpret it, however, and how we choose to respond will vary.
Those who have lived along the Gulf Coast for some time have the benefit of experience. We know that the build-up to any storm can feel intense, bringing at least some level of anxiety. But no matter what kind of storm we anticipate, we know it will eventually end, just as sure as it began. In most scenarios, there is considerable relief on the other side. In a few cases, there is genuine devastation. But even then, there is a next step. Often, those are the moments when the community rises to be its very best.
As you would expect, our United Methodist connection is actively preparing for any form of disaster response. More information about those preliminary efforts is found here:
If you have needs yourself, or know of other opportunities for support and service in your neighborhood, please reach out to one of your pastors or someone in your church family.
I love the words of Psalm 107:29 and the image of God “hushing” the storm waves. Given this weekend's timing, the anticipated visit from Hurricane Isaias is a fitting call to prayer and worship. No matter the storm on Friday, our forecast on Sunday calls for a resurrection! Those who gather for worship on Sunday will have every reason to offer thanks and praise!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Yours,
Darren