A Prayer for Yellowknife and Northwest Territories

O Lord, we cry out to you for the city of Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories.

The fires burn, the land groans, all of creation mourns over what is happening. O Lord, have mercy.

With sighs and groans too deep for words, we pray for the people of Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. O Lord, have mercy.

We pray for those who have been ordered to evacuate. Give patience to the drivers, because we know we would be impatient. Give calm to all 22,000 people who are leaving Yellowknife leaving much behind, because we know that we would be anxious. Pour out your peace which is beyond human understanding.

We weep with those who weep. We grip the steering wheel tighter with those who grip the steering wheel tighter. We let out sighs of relief with those who sigh in relief once they are south of Enterprise, NWT.  

We pray for those who fight the fires and those who deploy the firefighters, we pray for first responders and emergency planners, O Lord, give them resilience, perseverance, and hope.

O Lord, have mercy.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.