A WESTERN ORTHODOX PRAYER SERVICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TEXAS FLOODING

For the Repose of the Innocents and the Comfort of the Grieving

Opening Versicles

V. O Lord, open thou our lips.

R. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

V. O God, make speed to save us.

R. O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 130 – De Profundis

Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.

O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.

If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?

For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.

I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.

My soul fleeth unto the Lord * before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch.

O Israel, trust in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

Psalm 23 – Dominus regit me

The Lord is my shepherd; * therefore can I lack nothing.

He shall feed me in a green pasture, * and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

He shall convert my soul, * and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; * for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them that trouble me; * thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

Surely thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Scripture Reading – Wisdom 3:1–5, 9

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

and there shall no torment touch them.

In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die:

and their departure is taken for misery,

And their going from us to be utter destruction:

but they are in peace.

For though they be punished in the sight of men,

yet is their hope full of immortality.

And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded:

for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself…

They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth:

and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him.

PRAYER FOR THE REPOSE OF THE DEPARTED

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life,

we commend unto thy loving mercy the souls of thy servants who have departed

this life in the sudden and tragic floods of Texas:

especially the 40+ adults and 28 children whose lives were swept away.

Receive them, we beseech thee, into the bosom of Abraham,

into the company of the saints,

where pain and sorrow are no more,

neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Give them rest, O Lord, in a place of green pasture and still waters,

where the light of thy countenance shineth evermore.

For thou art good and lovest mankind, and to thee we ascribe glory,

with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE GRIEVING FAMILIES

Almighty and most merciful Father,

who alone canst heal the broken in heart and bind up their wounds:

look with compassion, we pray thee, upon the families

of those whose loved ones, and especially their children,

have perished in the floods of Kerr County and the surrounding lands.

Comfort them with thy peace which passeth all understanding;

surround them with faithful friends and the love of Christ’s Church;

give them strength to face the days to come,

and the hope of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE MISSING CHILDREN AND THOSE IN DANGER

O God, who seest and knowest all things,

we humbly beseech thee for thy merciful help

for those children yet missing from Camp Mystic,

and for all who remain in peril from the rising waters.

Guide and protect those who search and rescue;

grant safety to all who labor amidst danger;

restrain the further destruction of the storm and rain;

and show thy mighty hand to deliver, preserve, and save.

May thy holy angels guard the innocent,

and may thy name be glorified in mercy and in power.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

LITANY FOR THE DEPARTED AND THE AFFLICTED

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,

Have mercy upon us.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy upon us.

O God the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful,

Have mercy upon us.

Receive the souls of thy servants who have died,

O Lord, grant them rest eternal.

Remember, O Lord, the children taken from this life,

O Lord, grant them thy heavenly kingdom.

Remember, O Lord, the families left behind in grief,

Comfort them, O Lord, with thy mercy.

Protect those still missing and in danger,

Deliver them, O Lord, from all harm.

Guide those who search and serve,

Strengthen them with thy grace.

Still the storm and calm the waters,

Spare thy people, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

CLOSING COLLECT PRAYER 

O Eternal God, who alone art our refuge and strength,

look graciously upon thy servants in Texas who have suffered great loss.

Grant to the departed thy rest,

to the grieving thy peace,

to the fearful thy presence,

and to all thy Church the grace to respond with charity, prayer, and hope.

Let not our hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,

for thou art our rock and our salvation.

To thee be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

MEMORY ETERNAL! MEMORY ETERNAL! MEMORY ETERNAL!