Wildfires in Alberta

Living in a country that experiences the horrors and devastation of what we call bushfires in Australia, it is shocking to see the wildfires in Alberta Province in Canada - and the devastation of whole communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the firefighters, those who have been evacuated and fled their homes, those who are supporting them, and those who have lost homes and livelihoods. It may be quite some time before people will be able to return to their communities to see what remains. We pray for the diaconal ministry agents in the area, and practical responses of the churches to support the people impacted by the fire.

A Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Cathie Lambert, wrote this prayer after fires devastated the Margaret River region of Western Australia in 2011 in which she lives:

A prayer for the fires
We lament the devastation of the fires....
of tragic loss....
of homes reduced to ash....
of mementos that held treasured memories...
of treasured possessions and everyday necessities....
of livelihood...
of vegetation and animals....
of the beauty of the landscape....
We bring these images of loss into Your Presence,
sharing Your grief and sharing the grief of Your people and Your land.
We pray for those affected - for courage, strength, patience and hope, to face the days and weeks and months ahead, even when the story no longer has media attention.
We give thanks for those who have fought hard to contain the fire and bring it to an end, and for those who have supported residents - for firefighters, police officers, ambulance officers, and emergency workers. We are thankful that no lives have been lost in this catastrophe.
We give thanks that the people are not alone in their time of grief, anger, confusion and sorrow, and that the sense of goodwill in the community, and across the nation, offers them encouragement and practical support in their time of need.
We give thanks that the God we know in Jesus Christ journeys with us and remains with us all the days of our life, even through the dark valleys and times of sorrow and lament. Amen.

Anglican Church in Canada also has posted prayer points....
This is a terrifying time for the residents of the City of Fort McMurray, all of whom have had to evacuate. I think particularly of how stressful this is for those who are critically ill and those who tend them under these very difficult circumstances. Pray for all who are fleeing the fires that they may travel in safety. Pray for those who will receive them in emergency shelters. Pray for those who, against the odds given the unusually high seasonal temperatures and high winds, are battling the blaze and attempting to curtail its reach. Pray for all the firefighters, police and emergency service workers. These are exhausting days for them. Pray for all who face the loss of their homes, businesses, and livelihoods. Pray for all who are trying to protect City Hall and other public service buildings with an eye to the huge task of rebuilding the city in time. Let us continue to hold Fort McMurray in prayer, as we as a Church and a nation responding to this unfolding crisis.
The Most Rev Fred Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate.