When disaster strikes a nation (website only)

1 When disaster strikes a nation‚
flood‚ tornado‚ fire or drought‚
leaving scenes of devastation‚
human lives turned inside out‚
God of love‚ receive the prayer‚
wrung from us in deep despair.

2 When proud symbols of a nation
crumble into mindless dust‚
and‚ in fear and desperation‚
we affirm‚ “In God we trust‚”
God of love‚ receive the prayer‚
wrung from us in deep despair.

3 When the army of a nation‚
sent abroad to liberate‚
causes only deprivation‚
misery and rage and hate‚
God of love‚ receive the prayer‚
wrung from us in deep despair.

4 When you see that any nation
clearly has a change of heart:
for the wronged full reparation‚
for the earth a fresh new start‚
God of love‚ receive our prayer;
give us hope for our despair.

5 Raise up‚ then‚ in every nation‚
people who will point the way‚
by their lives of dedication‚
to your new and better day.
In this task we‚ too‚ would share:
God of love‚ this is our prayer.

Words: © Norman J Goreham

Metre: 8.7.8.7.7 7.

Suggested tune: All Saints (StF 725)

First published in the Methodist Church of New Zealand Conference Song Book‚ November 2004