California Fires Support

How can I help?

On January 8, fires broke out in Los Angeles, causing unfathomable devastation to hundreds of thousands of people evacuating, with whole neighborhoods and communities burning. As we watch immense tragedy unfold, how do we respond?

Your prayers can bring comfort and hope to those impacted by the devastating fires in California. Take a moment to pray for the victims and their families, asking for peace, protection, and healing. Remember to lift up the first responders as well, who are risking so much to protect lives and communities. For more ways to help or stay informed, check out the links available on our website.

Resources

A Prayer for Los Angeles

Followers of Jesus know there is power in prayer. So, while prayer isn’t the only thing we should do, it should be the first thing we do. Most importantly, we pray together. This communal prayer is for you to pray on your own, joining in with others as a part of Canyon Ridge praying for Los Angeles, and you can pray it as a family or a group. While we can’t do everything, we can always do something.

Father God,
You are our refuge and strength
When we do not know what to pray, we echo your words
Remembering your Holy Spirit is always interceding on our behalf

 Your Word says you are close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34)
Be close, Lord Jesus
Your Word says you hold our right hand and help us (Isaiah 41)
Hold and help us, Lord Jesus

 For those who have fled and lost everything from the fires raging in Los Angeles
Would your grieving spirit comfort those who mourn 
For those who are rallying together to feed, clothe, bathe, and house others
Would your generous spirit encourage those who serve
For those who are bravely fighting the fires on the frontlines
Would your courageous spirit renew the strength of those who sacrifice 

We echo David’s prayer in Psalm 121
We look to the mountains, where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of the heavens and the earth
And it is to You alone that we ask boldly with faith
That you would send rain to a city up in flames
That you would send help to those who are aching in body, mind, strength, and spirit
That you would send relief to a scorched and weary land 

For the families who have lost their forever home, 
for neighbors who have only rubble to return to, 
For the mom and pop shops grieving generational loss,
businesses and long-time dreams-come-true burnt overnight, 
for the hundreds of thousands who do not know what tomorrow brings, 
for those who have lost hope, 
for those who never knew to get ready to say goodbye to everything…
In our lament, God, we hold your hurting people in your healing Presence
Have mercy, Lord Jesus

For the community leaders who responding to emergency crisis with urgency, 
for those protecting the vulnerable, 
for the restaurants becoming dining tables 
for those with nowhere to eat, 
for the shops and parking lots and storefronts
that have become places for people to give and receive, 
those who have opened their doors to strangers 
and neighbors to welcome those without anywhere to go…
God, bless the beauty of a community that comes together as one
Have mercy, Lord Jesus
God, bless those who have said, “I can help” 
God, bless your hands and your feet, your heart and your hope for a city in grief 

May we not be afraid of all that must be done in the days and months to come, but to simply and faithfully and generously do what can be done this day
Gracious God, would you hear our prayer today
You are Immanuel, God with us
Be with Los Angeles
It is in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus we pray
And all God’s people say 

Amen