Service of Prayer July 10th
Join us for a special service of prayer for the communities affected by the Guadalupe flood.
July 10th
6:30 p.m.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Nursery is available for children ages 3 months through 4 years.
Dear Redeemer Family,
It’s early Monday morning as I write these thoughts to you, dear sisters and brothers. Christ's peace to all of you. Fran and I are traveling back to San Antonio today after spending a week with our daughter and her family in Birmingham, AL around the 4th of July holiday.
Yesterday, as we worshipped at the Advent Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Birmingham, their congregation mourned the loss of Sarah Marsh, one of the young girls who died in the flooding at Camp Mystic on Friday. The Marshes live in Birmingham and are members of that congregation, but the mother, Jill, is from San Antonio and was once a member of Redeemer. All this made me think about how small the world is — and how large the tragedy of this flood is. It reached us all the way in Alabama. It is capturing the hearts and minds of people across the country.
I have interacted from afar with a number of you, and everyone has spoken of the heaviness we all feel. There is great joy and thanksgiving, yes, over our Redeemer children and youth who were at Camp Mystic and are now safely reunited with their families. They and their families have certainly suffered trauma, but they are home and safe. Praise God! And yet, the heaviness remains, the burden remains, the deep sadness remains: Over the children and adults who perished in the flood, at the camp and elsewhere; over those still missing and unaccounted for; over the great damage and devastation throughout the region. As of this writing, 75 are confirmed dead, including 28 children. At least 10 girls and one counselor are still missing from Mystic. The loss is massive, and we all feel it at some level. For many of us, we are only one or two steps removed from someone directly affected.
Two questions arise in my mind this morning — perhaps in yours as well. The first is: What can Redeemer do to engage with this crisis? Pastor Victor and our diaconate will be sharing different ways you can give and help in the coming days, both personally and collectively through Redeemer. At this time, all efforts are focused on recovery. As soon as specific requests come in—whether for volunteers or essential supplies—the deacons will share those details promptly with the congregation. For now, we encourage financial gifts through The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. This organization will distribute funds to various groups on the ground who are best equipped to help. You can give here: The Community Foundation.
Redeemer can also, and perhaps best, engage in responding to this crisis through prayer. Pray for lost children and adults to be found alive. Pray for comfort and hope in Christ and his resurrection for those who mourn. Pray for strength and protection for first responders. Pray for provision for those who have suffered damage or loss of property. Pray for God’s peace and enduring strength for all who are suffering during the crisis, and for those who will face long-term trauma. Pray that the Lord will use this tragedy to open hearts and minds to Jesus as our only hope and comfort in life and in death.
The second question is more challenging: Where is God in all of this? God declares the beginning and end of all things, and everything in between. (Isaiah 46:10-11) He works all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11). So, God was not surprised or caught off guard on Friday in Kerr County. But there is more. God was not just sovereignly present on Friday; he is mercifully and graciously with us, at all times and all places. He is the One who works all things together for good — even horrible things that are not remotely good in themselves, like floods — in the lives of his people. He is the Lord whose voice rises above the waters (Psalm 29:3), who sits enthroned over the flood, who reigns as King forever (Psalm 29:10), who gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace as the waters rise (Psalm 29:11). God spared Jonah as he passed through the great storm and endured the belly of the great fish (Jonah 1-2), and Jonah cried, “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” (Jonah 2:9). But a Greater Jonah has now come — Jesus Christ — who passed through the storm and waves of death, was buried in them, and bore the just penalty of God against our sin, so that we might be brought safely through to the other side (Matthew 12:40-41), no matter how difficult the winds or waves we may encounter. (Mark 4:35-41)
The cross of Christ assures us that God can take the darkest moments of brokenness, suffering, and even evil — and redeem them for good. This includes the times we are caught in the storm, overwhelmed by the waters, even when no fish swims by to save us. We can trust God’s goodness and mercy — even here, even now. He loves you and will not let you go. The life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ proves this to you.
I look forward to seeing you Thursday evening or Sunday morning, Lord willing. My prayers are with you, as are the prayers of all your pastors and elders. May the Lord be rich in mercy to all. May the love of Christ be shown forth brightly in this dark time. May Jesus come to us, to weep with us and to give us his resurrection hope and power! In his name, we pray. Amen
Rev. Paul Hahn