When disaster strikes a nation (website only)

Metre:
87.87.77.
Tune:
All Saints
Authors & translators:
Goreham, Norman

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

When circumstances make my life too hard to understand (StF 641)
When listening prophets dare to speak (StF 163)