Special Prayer for Survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton

 

 

 

The following is a Prayer that I wrote for those devastated by previous Hurricanes. You can find it at the "Pray in Place" prayer group archives at this link. Links are also provided to blog posts and updates about experiences our group encountered as we provided   disaster relief to those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. 

 I was a member of a group of seminarians, ministers, clergy and social workers from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University who traveled from New York City to Atlanta,Georgia, Biloxi,Mississippi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi to pray and provide comfort to Survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

 Another resource which I refer you to if you are headed to Florida and North Carolina is a book of prayers, reflections resources and stories entitled Katrina: Listening with Our Hearts prepared by scholars, social workers and clergy documenting our trip. You can purchase the book at this link. Two of my blog articles are contained in that book as well.

This is a prayer for Puerto Rico that I posted on Facebook after the Hurricane. It can be repurposed for Hurricanes Helene and Milton:

Most high, magnificent, omnipotent, wonder working, mighty God, you are a strong tower, a present help in the hour and minute of need,

a shelter from the storm. Most beneficent all powerful maker of heaven and earth, creator of ways out of no way, we call upon you at this critical time. Our planet is in an emergency in deep need of your intervention in these calamitous and disturbing times with back to back hurricanes, tropical storms, cyclones, tornadoes, flooding shaking up our way of life and devastating our cities. It appears that our very planet is in an uproar screaming out for help. Please calm the chaos in the weather as the winds appear to be sounding alarms that we have not heeded by taking better care of our planet. Manifest calm, sound reason and diminish the threats and rumors of war and global conflict. Steady the weather, bring peace to our politics and stability to earth's terrain.

Hear our prayers. We stand on your word and trust in your ability to intercede in our desperate time of need. Calm the mighty winds. Bring our challenged regions of the Carribean and Eastern seaboard into alignment with your will and your grace, saturated by your divine mercy which endures forever. Please steady the ground on the islands of Puerto Rico and all others in the path of this latest raging hurricane. We love you God. We need you now. Help the victims of the storms in Houston and throughout Texas, Florida, the Carribean. We await your miracle. Please answer our prayer. We will be careful to give you all the praise, all the honor and all the glory! In the name of God almighty! Please answer our prayers. Amen.

 

If you have prayers you would like to offer for family AND friends in affected areas. please feel free to add them in the comments.

Biden-Harris Greet Freed Russian Hostages

In a monumental exchange of prisoners which President Biden described as a feat of diplomacy and friendship, he and Vice President Kamala Harris greet them and their very happily relieved families  at the airport. (The above news video is courtesy of the Guardian Newspaper.)

Kamala Harris to Visit Detroit for Labor Day Events

 

 Democratic Presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Detroit for Labor Day events including Detroit's popular yearly Labor Day Parade. The parade is a favorite event attended by politicians and labor leaders alike.  President Barack Obama attended and gave one of his rousing speeches before hundreds back in 2011. 

Click on the link below to review a podcast of my archived post from September 2011. You can also find the written blog article by searching the search box on the right-hand column of this blog. The search box will appear in the lower right hand column of this blog when you click on the "View Web Version" link found at the bottom of this page. The post's title is "Detroit Welcomes Obama with Fired Up Chants of Four More Years". If you would like to read more articles on Obama, just type in Obama and a number of archived posts will appear.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/restoration-harvest-part-3-episode-2--41182465 

Have an eventful Labor Day! Enjoy the parade! And, let's keep Vice President Harris and her running mate Governor Walz lifted in prayer.

Blessings,

Cynthia Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

Fortuitous Swahili Mass Sunday, August 25, 2024

  Scripture Reference-Ephesians 4:1-6

 

Yesterday, I rushed to get to worship service at my church on time. It was my expectation and goal to make it there by at least 11:00a.m.
But as fortune would have it, and though my intentions were completely honorable, I just could not meet that expectation. I fervently desired to be among the congregation and fellow worshippers lifting up hands and praising God in unison.

I scanned the clock, it was already 11:00 by the time I showered,put on my clothes and ate a small breakfast. No way I am going to make it to church in time enough  even for the sermon, I thought to myself. Then I started a quick review in my mind of all the churches nearby that I could attend instead. I had been invited to attend a neighborhood church a few days earlier by a minister who told me she was preaching. I strongly considered that possibility. Then, my old home church is less than 10 minutes away. But their service began at 10:00 am.
Not being a denominational snob as I have both preached and attended various churches over the years from Baptist, Interdenominational, Unity, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal to Catholic, Old St. Mary's quickly came to mind. As an occasional visitor there over the years, I knew their Mass started at 12noon and I had plenty of time to make it there for the service. Also, I always enjoy the wonderful aroma of that Frankincense and myrrh incense that wafts through the air during worship...very soothing and relaxing.

Turns out my visit was a real treat. The word was delivered by the Pastor who I later learned was from Tanzania. I was amazed,really.

After service,  I was blessed with a homemade banana split  at the ice cream social and the opportunity to attend a real live Swahili Mass. No English spoken or read. All attendees hailed from African countries...  I praised God for his wondrous guidance  through the Holy Ghost which transcends all human made religious and denominational boundaries. Although I could not make my originally intended destination, God had another plan for me that worked out just fine.

As a real trivia plus while in conversation with the Pastor, I also learned that Mt. Killiamanjaro is in Tanzania, not Kenya,
as most people have been led to believe.

Note:
Cross reference my essay "Spartan Village..." in which I make reference to traveling to my "Swahili" class
at MSU.

Truth Talk-- Detroit Music Lover's Experience: Detroit Celebrates Michigan Central Opening with Special Concert and Community Viewing Parties at Campus Martius and Several Other Community Venues

 

 

 

I headed out early in the evening about an hour and a half before showtime to see and experience the spectacular line-up for yet another stellar Detroit event. Detroit was abuzz and streams of people parking their cars and headed to the concert got thicker and thicker as I traveled from home to downtown and inched my way down Michigan avenue and over to Corktown.

I had contacted a few high-powered friends just a day ago when I heard that all of the tickets had already been distributed, hoping to get a few tickets for me and a couple of good friends. But something more important happened after praying. It was a blessing. that I could either gain entrance as part of the media team, since I am an avid music concert blogger whenever I can make it to the venue. But this concert was announced so rapidly, with only a couple of days between showtime and announcement, there was really no time.

But getting to the show was a no-brainer since miraculously the viewing of the concert was opened up to other locations outside of Michigan Central to accommodate Detroiters and others  who missed out on the initial ticket distribution. I knew I'd be watching the show live telecast from Campus Martius which turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. I was able to park my car very close within a few steps of the viewing screen, making the venue very handicap accessible.

I did try to drive close enough to the Michigan Central  venue earlier to take some photos of the converging concert goers and the fabulously renovated Michigan Central in time to make it back to Campus Martius. However, the main street leading to Michigan Central was blocked off and you'd have to walk several blocks on foot to make it to the main venue. I was on my walker and not a scooter so I took a few photos from my car and headed on back to the park to view the concert on the big screen there.

Some concert highlights:

Diana Ross dazzled the crowd as she radiated out on stage in an ultra-gorgeus flowing red gown. The Clark Sisters were amazing as they dazzled the crowd. Fantasia gave a skilfully rocking performance along with Melissa Etheridge and____in a tribute performance to Mitch Ryder. There were so many other great performances. It was a night to remember and cherish for Detroit and Detroiters relishing a phenomenal comeback for a city marred for years by blight, poverty and crime. The Michigan Center, once an eyesore now a beautiful gathering place. Below are some photos and video clips I took of the concert.