New Orleans is sinking man and I don't wanna swim

The following prayers, from a Danish Lutheran missionary manual, have been used for decades in parts of the Caribbean.

O Lord God, heavenly Father, in this perilous season of the year our land is often visited with tempests and gales, calamities and distresses by land and sea. From such evil spare us, we pray.

But if you loosen the wings of the gale and the earth trembles at your bidding--your will, O Lord, be done. Almighty Creator and heavenly Father, keep us in your mercy through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and rules with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one true God, forever and ever. Amen


O merciful God and heavenly Father, you asked us to call upon you in all our need and distress, and moreover, you promised to hear our prayers and to help us, thereby causing us to give thanks. During this perilous season, we have felt nature weigh heavily upon us. Keep us from anger, that we might turn our hearts to you, as the ruinous gale passes over us and the earth trembles.

We give ourselves to you with humble hearts, and pray that you will graciously grant by your Holy Spirit, that we are found thankful, not only in word, but also in deed and in truth, that our lives may give glory and praise to you, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one true God, forever and ever. Amen