Loving God,
Our prayers today are where our hearts and minds have been during the last weeks, with the victims of the bushfires.

We pray for those who mourn their dead:

Families, neighbours, school friends, workmates.
O God, divine Friend, be with them in their desperate sorrow.
Comfort their torn heart and heal them from nightmare memories.
Let there be joy,
Let there be peace
Let there be hope,
Let there be love.

We pray for the injured survivors in our hospitals:
those who are severely burnt or disfigured and those suffering ones who may never recover.
Relieve them from pain, and soothe their tortured minds by your Holy Spirit.
Let there be joy,
Let there be peace
Let there be hope,
Let there be love.

Gracious Lord, we pray for all who lost their homes:
Comfort them as they grieve the loss of very special personal possessions, treasured photos or letters, gifts, heirlooms or mementos which held a precious memory.
Let there be joy,
Let there be peace
Let there be hope,
Let there be love.

By your Spirit, please encourage and sustain:
Those who for days and weeks have lived with the threat of fires, and whose nerves are worn thin;
The children who may suffer nightmares for months to come;
those who have been fighting fires on many fronts, only to see new ones bear down on them from unexpected quarters;
Those who daily put their lives a risk for others, and the many who, through constant exertion and lack of sleep, wonder how they can cope for even one hour longer.

We pray for the fire services:
Bless their dedication and courage, and stir our society to make sure thy are provided with the best facilities and safety equipment for their vocation.
Let there be joy,
Let there be peace
Let there be hope,
Let there be love.

We pray for all those working for the rehabilitation of the victims:
The government, Red cross, the church, telephonists, social workers, pastors, and a host of friends, neighbours, and generous citizens.
Give us the grace to help in ways which will respect human dignity, speed recovery and restore hope.
Let there be joy,
Let there be peace
Let there be hope,
Let there be love.

These prayers we ask through the One whose Spirit inspires our compassions, Jesus our Lord.

Words from the Rev, Bruce Prewer in ‘Australian Prayers’ and ‘Australians at Prayer’