Photo by Polly Carlson, taken from the MVS unit in San Francisco, California.
By Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA
As a denomination that spans the continental United States and Alaska, our churches experience the breadth of environmental and societal events that occur across the country. Our hearts go out to our congregations and members in the West, dealing with forest fires and all the threats and loss of lives these fires generate.
God, we ask that you bring relief and healing to those impacted by forest fires. We pray for both peace and protection for those who are afraid and who feel hopeless. May no one have to walk alone during these turbulent times, and may the church be a place of refuge and a source of hope. Many others in our church are also suffering because of systemic oppression, impending storms and COVID–19. Be with us all during these uncertain times. Please help us to be effective instruments of your peace wherever we find ourselves as members of the body of Christ.