Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has issued an emergency appeal for

Haiti, where millions of people have been affected by a major earthquake

that struck the country on Tuesday, January 12. The exact number of

casualties is unknown at this time, nor is the full extent of the damage;

however, reports indicate that tens of thousands — possibly hundreds of

thousands — of people are feared dead and countless others have been left

homeless.

The Haitian infrastructure was already in a fragile state. The earthquake has

caused widespread damage of homes and other buildings as well as damage

to water, electrical and road systems. Symbols of security such as schools,

hospitals and churches have been damaged or destroyed.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding to this earthquake through

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and its partners. Presbyterian World

Mission is gathering information on the safety and status of our mission

personnel and ecumenical partners in the area. For updates on the earthquake

number of casualties and widespread damage especially in the capital city of

Port-au-Prince.

PDA is rushing an initial $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and

designated funds to help provide immediate emergency relief to the affected

people. Funds are being sent through our ecumenical and local partners

working in Haiti.

PC(USA) mission co-worker Carlos Cardenas is joining an ecumenical team

through the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance going to Haiti to

help with the response and needs assessments.

Presbyterian World Mission is gathering information on the safety and status

of our mission personnel and ecumenical partners in the area.

You can stand in the gap for disaster survivors and help the church in this

response.

GIVE. The generous sharing of your financial blessings through the One

Great Hour of Sharing offering and special designated giving provide

resources needed to assist with immediate and long-term recovery needs.

For additional news go to the Presbyterian News Service on Haiti

http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2010/10032.htm

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us

join our hearts in prayer:

God of compassion

Please watch over the people of Haiti,

And weave out of these terrible happenings

wonders of goodness and grace.

Surround those who have been affected by tragedy

With a sense of your present love,

And hold them in faith.

Though they are lost in grief,

May they find you and be comforted;

Guide us as a church

To find ways of providing assistance

that heals wounds and provides hope.

Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer,

We all suffer.

We pray through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives

and rules this world with you. Amen.

God our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble,

when the mountains shake,

when the earth trembles,

you are our shelter, our safety.

Give peace to those in turmoil,

give refuge to those in danger,

give comfort to those who mourn,

and strength to those who offer aid,

until all may dwell secure

in your eternal city of peace

that can never be shaken;

through Christ our Savior. Amen.

God our creator,

through whose providing care we enjoy all goodness and life,

turn our eyes to your mercy in this time of confusion and loss.

Comfort those who mourn the loss of loved ones because of the earthquake;

shine your light on those whose only companion is darkness;

and teach us all so to number our days that we may apply our hearts to your

wisdom;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Eternal God,

amid all the turmoil and changes of the world

your love is steadfast and your strength never fails.

In this time of danger and trouble, be to us a sure guardian.

Guide the leaders of the nations with your wisdom,

comfort those in distress,

and grant courage and hope to face the future;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Loving God, in the communion of Christ,

we are joined with the trials and sufferings of all.

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 one 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 Savior and Lord. Amen.

Merciful God,

when the chaos of natural disaster threatens to overtake us,

awaken our faith to know the power of your peace.

Deliver us from our fear and ease our anxiety.

Help us to endure the time of uncertainty

and give us strength to face the challenges ahead.

Give us the assurance of your presence even in this time

so that we can cling to your promise of hope and life shown to us

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

O God,

who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the troubled heart,

bring hope and courage to all

who are affected by this earthquake as we wait in uncertainty.

Bring assurance that you will be with us in whatever lies ahead.

Give us courage to endure all that we now face,

for you are our refuge and strength.

You are God, and we need you.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Merciful God,

Hear our cry for mercy in the wake of the earthquake.

Reveal your presence in the midst of our suffering.

Help us to trust in your promises of hope and life

so that desperation and grief will not overtake us.

Come quickly to our aid that we may know peace and joy again.

Strengthen us in this time of trial

with the assurance of hope we know in the death and resurrection

of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Gracious God,

Your word of peace 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 to shoulder the burden of suffering,

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The seas roar, the earth shakes,

buildings crumble, roofs topple

and walls turn to dust.

Have mercy on the people of Haiti, O God.

Nations watch, alarms sound, traffic halts, utilities stop,

and news is hard to verify.

Give us compassion to weep with those who weep, O God.

People die, families mourn, mountains split,

infrastructure and superstructure alike are gone.

Make us swift to help and persistent to rebuild,

not just things and structures, but lives, O God:

through Christ, the solid Rock. Amen.

A prayer written by Taylor Burton-Edwards

Some prayers are adapted from the Book of Common Worship by Bruce