I was listening to this on the way into work this morning. It's from Audio Adrenaline's new CD:
God came down
And walked beside me
God came down
He sent friends to guide me
God came down to remind me
This is what it feels like
To be loved
--Lose Control (from 'Until My Heart Caves In')
From the indispensable explore faith web site:
I have grown certain that God actually mourns these horrible events with us, that God is as sad, even more so, about what is happening to me as I am. God's role, I have felt, is to be “by my side,” to understand me, to comfort me, to “lead me beside still waters... [and] restore my soul” (from Psalm 23) in the metaphorical “Valley of Death” which I face, as does every other person in the world.
I blogged recently about the eviction of MCC of Greater New Orleans by the Catholic Archdiocese. Now everything has been taken away by the hurricane:
As of today, 30 members of MCC of Greater New Orleans are still missing. We ask that you continue to pray for their safety and recovery.
Our pastors in the three impacted states are safe, but in very minimal living conditions due to their losses. Rev. Dexter's home in New Orleans is in one of the restricted areas and is uninhabitable. He has no car. Our church location in New Orleans is lost and this blow came on top of the forced eviction of these members less than two months ago by the archdiocese in New Orleans. This eviction was based on the opinion of the archdiocese that we favor “equal marriage for same sex couples.” There are also some very special needs for individuals living with HIV/AIDS who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina, and we are working with agencies and individuals to ensure their care.
These are difficult times. But MCC has faced many such tragedies in its life of 37 years. The church in New Orleans was once burned by arsonists and members and clergy were killed. Twenty-one of our churches have been arsoned or firebombed. And more than 6000 of our members have died of HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the pandemic.
None of our losses can compare with the loss of the people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina -- yet our experience with loss helps us in these times. We know how to get through these terrible days for God has promised us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). God gives strength to God's people; and blesses us with peace.
Please pray with us as we gather our resources and our strength for our continued ministry.
--Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, MCC Executive Director
MCC has set up a relief fund and a response team to help with the needs of MCC members and others in the GLBT community worst hit by the disaster. You can contribute or learn more here.